IT’S being billed as the biggest boxing event in 2005, but the projected rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera has crashed before it could take off.
Reason: Barrera no longer wants to fight Pacquiao, who crushed and stopped the Mexican boxing icon in 11 rounds in Texas last year.
Information on Barrera’s sudden refusal came from Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao’s US promoter, who told journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz yesterday the Mexican champ had a sudden change of heart hours after he wrested the WBC super-featherweight title in a close, thrilling third fight with Erik Morales in Las Vegas.
Barrera’s handlers, headed by Oscar de la Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, suggested that Pacquiao instead take on world 122-lb champ Oscar Larios, who outpointed Nedal Hussein in the undercard of the Barrera-Morales bout.
There was ready suspicion Barrera was in fear of Pacquiao, and with good reason.
Barrera could handle Morales’ soft punches, but he cannot handle Pacquiao’s power shots.
As shown in the third encounter in Las Vegas on Sunday, Morales lost on points because he did not pack a big one.
Most displeased over the Barrera turnaround were Pacquiao and his chief handler, Freddie Roach.
In fact, Roach had suggested during training in Davao that Pacquiao could skip his scheduled rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez and take on Barrera out right in February.
“Barrera claims his head wasn’t right in the first fight against Manny,” Roach said. “If he wants to redeem himself, we will be happy to accommodate him.”
Then, staring hard, Roach told the Inquirer: “We will be there to give Barrera another bad night.”
Pacquiao himself had expressed elation over the Barrera points victory, although he had previously picked Morales to win.
Pacquiao goes into another rigid sparring at the Almendras Gym in Davao today.
He’s scheduled to leave for Manila with his retinue on Thursday, in time for a Friday meeting with sponsors and organizers of his fight against Fahsan 3K Battery at The Fort in Taguig.
Roach said Pacquiao was already 10 rounds ready last Monday for his fight on Dec. 11.
The famous American trainer said Pacquiao would be 100-percent ready on fight night.
