Nobody has ever said that Marco Antonio Barrera isn’t skillful.
The craftsman practiced his art on both sides of the ropes Saturday night in El Paso with an expected, yet gutsy, knockout of super-featherweight pretender Mzonke Fana with a fractured right hand in the second round.
The victory prompted inevitable questions about a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, who beat him – broke him down and apart – in 2003.
The question was a lot tougher than Fana. Hence, Barrera’s rhetorical footwork.
“Many opponents are out there,” he said after his first bout since a decision over Erik Morales. “If I fight Pacquiao, they are just going to say that Morales set him up for me. I just want to face the best.”
Translation: Pacquiao, who lost to Morales last month, probably won’t be one of those opponents.
An old formula – styles make fights – applies to Barrera. For every great fighter, there’s always one he can’t beat.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will get a hint at his future this week. He is scheduled to return to Los Angeles from his home in the Philippines Wednesday. He’ll see a doctor about the cut he suffered over his right eye against Morales.
Physicians thought it would heal without plastic surgery.
Back in town
The International Boxing Association was back in the Valley Friday night at Fort McDowell Casino for a Peter McKinn and Top Rank-promoted card.
A bounced check for $500 to IBA ratings chairman Norm Longtin is one reason for trainer Joe Diaz’s battle with McKinn, Top Rank and the Arizona State Boxing Commission.
IBA President Dean Chance, a former Cy Young Award winner, was at ringside for a middleweight draw instead of Longtin.
“Norm would not come here,” Chance said. “Norm was very friendly with Joe. Bottom line: Norm got his money and it came from Diaz.”
According to Diaz’s copies of the paperwork, McKinn’s initial check to Longtin bounced. According to Chance, Longtin sent the check to John Montano, longtime chief of the Arizona commission. Diaz then paid Longtin with a cashier’s check in the name of Top Level Entertainment & Events, Diaz’s promotional company.
Diaz alleges that Montano sat on the bounced check.
Meanwhile, Montano said he will issue a report on another check – for $5,000 and dated May 8, 2004 – on April 21.
Diaz said there were attempts to cash the check for Yory Boy Campas. He has a letter from a bank manager that says Campas attempted to cash it repeatedly last May, but there were insufficient funds.
Despite futile attempts at cashing the check, Diaz’s fighters appeared on a couple of other 2004 cards promoted by McKinn before the account was closed on Jan 10.
“I believed him when he said he would pay all the bills through those other fights,” said Diaz, who also is contesting copies of a $3,000 check to Campas that in a sworn affidavit Diaz says he never saw, although a photo-stat copy shows Campas’ signature as an endorsement.
On the calendar
Arizona’s Golden Gloves Championships are scheduled for 7 tonight and Tuesday at Rodeo Nights on 33rd Avenue and Indian School Road.
