Renowned trainer Freddie Roach said yesterday he will recommend Manny Pacquiao to face Marco Antonio Barrera instead of Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas early next year because it?s the fight that fans will pay money for.
Roach, who flew in from Los Angeles last week to train Pacquiao for his Dec. 11 bout against Fahsan 3-K Battery of Thailand in Taguig, watched Barrera beat Erik Morales on a majority decision on TV in General Santos City the other day and was unimpressed.
“Barrera didn?t show anything new against Morales,” said Roach. “He was tougher and more aggressive than Morales. You let Barrera fight at his pace and he?ll eat you up. But against Manny, he?ll lose again. He just can?t handle Manny?s speed and power.”
Pacquiao stopped Barrera in the 11th round to gain recognition as the consensus world featherweight champion in San Antonio, Texas, last year. Barrera said he lacked mental focus in the fight and never gave Pacquiao credit for the win.
“Right now, Barrera?s the man, not Marquez,” said Roach. “He?s forever making excuses about his loss to Manny. Barrera claims it was a bad night. I?d like to see if he?ll have another bad night. Let?s clear the air. A rematch would be a natural. It?s what the fans want. Marquez was a nobody until he fought Manny. The Mexicans love Barrera. They don?t care for Marquez too much. Barrera?s win over Morales is fresh in everyone?s mind. He?s coming off a big win. I think a rematch with Manny in February or March will be sensational.”
Roach, however, said Pacquiao shouldn?t look beyond Fahsan.
“There?s no Marquez or Barrera or Morales if Manny can?t beat Fahsan,” continued Roach. “Fahsan?s a tough guy. Before I arrived, Manny?s focus wasn?t on Fahsan. It was on Marquez or Barrera or Morales. But I told him to straighten his priorities. Right now, he?s got to take care of Fahsan. That?s his only focus. I expect Fahsan to give 100 percent in the fight. He?ll bring his A-game to the ring because this is his chance to become a star.”
Roach said he?s studied Fahsan?s style carefully.
“All that talk about Fahsan staying away in the early rounds to tire out Manny is a lot of bull,” added Roach. “Once you?re in the ring and you start exchanging punches, you?ll fight according to your instincts. Fahsan is a fighter not a boxer. He?ll trade with Manny for sure. In the gym, we?re working on Manny?s right hand. I think if he used the right more, he would?ve knocked out Marquez. Our plan is to put Fahsan to sleep with a right hook.”
As for Pacquiao, he said he?s ready to take on Fahsan, Marquez, Barrera or Morales.
“Kahit sino, lalabanan ko,” said Pacquiao. “Handa na si Pacman. Walang pinakitang bago si Barrera kay Morales. Malakas si Barrera at parang kulang sa power ang mga suntok ni Morales. Sa tingin ko, kaya ko silang dalawa. But si Fahsan muna ang focus ko. Siya ang unang uupakan ko.”
Barrera barely beat Morales in their third meeting in Las Vegas last Saturday night (US time). Judge Larry O?Connell scored it 115-114 and Jerry Roth, 115-113, for Barrera while Paul Smith saw it a 114-114 draw.
O?Connell, a 66-year-old Englishman, scored a 10-10 in the 11th round while Roth and Smith had it for Morales. If he saw it for Morales like the other judges, the decision would?ve been a majority draw.
Scoring a 10-10 in a round is no longer a practice in world championship boxing because it smacks of indecisiveness.
Morales? promoter Bob Arum lashed out at the judges for their “inconsistency” and refused to accept Barrera?s victory.
Barrera said Morales threw water in his father?s face after the fight. He was ignored by Morales when he walked to his corner to shake hands at the final bell.
In Barrera?s mind, there was no question he was the superior fighter. “I just had to see Morales? face to know I beat him,” said Barrera.
The victory meant Barrera is now the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion. He is only the third Mexican fighter in history to capture world titles in three different divisions after Julio Cesar Chavez and Morales. Oscar de la Hoya is considered American despite his Mexican roots.
If Pacquiao faces Barrera in a rematch and wins again, he?ll become the only Asian ever to claim world titles in four divisions. He previously held the WBC flyweight and International Boxing Federation superbantamweight crowns. Pacquiao won the consensus or “people?s” world featherweight title when he halted Barrera.
Pacquiao is booked to meet Marquez in Las Vegas on Feb. 26. A Barrera rematch could take place in July when New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad has a slot on the Home Box Office (HBO) calendar. If Roach has his way, Barrera will replace Marquez for the Feb. 26 fight.
