Should Manny Pacquiao ever bring his two-fisted magic act to San Antonio again, the only thing we know for sure is who his opponent won’t be.
If bored by retirement, Marco Antonio Barrera might feel compelled to attend.
But he won’t be there to fight.
Barrera announced his retirement after his recent loss to Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. And although he fared a little better than the first time the two fought four years ago at the Alamodome, this defeat was enough to persuade Barrera to call it quits after the bout.
We can only hope he was sincere.
Despite the loss to Pacquiao, Barrera can go out with his dignity ? and his brain cells ? intact.
He’ll go down as one of Mexico’s best ever, a certain Hall of Famer who gave us many memorable fights during a pro career that spanned nearly two decades.
Many thought he should have retired after Pacquiao embarrassed him four years ago at the Alamodome. But he came back with stirring victories over Paulie Ayala and over Rocky Juarez twice.
He also beat Erik Morales in the rubber match of their epic trilogy.
He seemed to get old in the ring overnight the second time against Pacquiao. But Pacquiao’s speed can make even the best appear old.
After the fight, Barrera was given a standing ovation at the postfight news conference. It was well deserved.
Boxing will miss Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao back to S.A.? Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said he is considering bringing the Filipino whirlwind to San Antonio for a fight in the spring, possibly in March.
It would be Pacquiao’s third appearance here. He beat Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in April.
Pacquiao continues to be a big draw no matter where he fights. Arum said the Barrera fight did a live gate of $3 million and registered about 350,000 pay-per-view buys (including 3,800 in San Antonio).
Diaz moving on: Oscar Diaz said he’s disappointed his rematch with San Antonio rival Golden Johnson fell through, but he’s not looking back.
?It wasn’t meant to be, I guess,? Diaz said. ?We did our part. I’m not worried about it.?
Diaz and Johnson had signed to meet in a rematch Nov. 3 in Biloxi, Miss. But the main event on the card, Glen Johnson vs. Anthony Hanshaw, never materialized and the card was canceled.
Diaz (25-2, 12 KOs), who lost to Johnson in an 11th-round TKO in November at the Alamodome, is coming off a July bout against Juan Manuel Buendia in Biloxi in which Diaz suffered a severe cut during the first 10 seconds.
The fight was stopped and declared a no contest. Diaz needed 45 stitches to close the gash over his left eye.
Johnson was offered a rematch against Diaz last summer, but turned it down. Three months later, he changed his mind.
?It took him a year to agree to another fight,? Diaz said. ?If he’s convinced he beat me, why wait so long to take the fight??
Johnson, who recently signed a promotional contract with Top Rank Inc. and is scheduled to fight top contender Antonio Margarito on Nov. 10 at Madison Square Garden, said Diaz still has not given him the respect he deserves for beating him the first time.
Diaz said Johnson was the better man that night, ?but I don’t believe he’s the better fighter.?
After his fight against Margarito was announced, Johnson said he still does not like Diaz and the rivalry was still on.
?Tell him we’ll see each other again some day,? Johnson said.
Diaz isn’t so sure, especially if Johnson loses to Margarito.
?There would be no point in me fighting him again,? said Diaz, who is scheduled to fight Dec. 6 in New Jersey. ?I don’t want to take another step back.?
