Referee Silvestre Abainza said yesterday Manny Pacquiao will knock out Marco Antonio Barrera inside nine rounds but fight scholar Hermie Rivera disagreed, pointing out that moving up to 126 pounds will be a major disadvantage for the Filipino in his scheduled 12-round bout for the consensus world featherweight championship in San Antonio on Nov. 15.
Abainza, who has worked 37 world title fights as either referee or judge, told The Star there is no way Barrera?a 4-1 favorite?can withstand Pacquiao?s power. He described Pacquiao as “too strong” for Barrera.
