WHO WILL BARRERA FIGHT NEXT?
Las Vegas, NV-While it is not the intention of this writer to take any attention away from the Shane Mosley-Fernando Vargas HBO PPV showdown Saturday, the truth of the matter is that Manny Pacquiao is the man. And when the man speaks, well, that alone is news. Actually, one of his blue-chip potential opponents is also on the front page, as rumors abound that Jesus Chavez, the IBF 135 lb. belt bearer will not meet Marco Antonio Barrera next month on HBO.
PACMAN FANS MUST REALIZE MANNY IS MORTAL!
With Pacquiao slated to face Oscar Larios this May, this is no ?give me? fight for Manny, something I think he needs, and more importantly, the Filipino people are expecting. Tall, lanky, lean, and two-fisted, Larios, 56-4-1, (36 KO?s), the former champion at 122 lbs., he is not the fight I?d put Pacquiao in if they wanted a ?work fight.? There maybe some additional pressure on Team Pacquiao, as HBO is not looking to drag the crew to Manila, just to watch Manny knock over a pugilistic bowling pin.
HOTTEST FIGHT IN MANY A MOON!
There is little question that the real fight people want to see is Pacquiao vs. Barrera II. The 41-3-2, (33 stops) Filipino cut through Barrera some 27 months ago, like a hot knife through butter. Although Pacquiao is a brute, even at an unnatural 130 lbs., one has to remember that the 5?8-ish Mexican mauler Larios has endured incredible pain in making 122 lbs. A couple of years ago, it was going to be Barrera vs. Larios. But that was nixed when Senor Jose Sulaiman, said that he would relieve Oscar of his (Sulaiman?s) WBC 122 lb. belt if they fought.
THIRD MORALES FIGHT WILL TAKE PRECEDENT!
Let?s say Chavez-Barrera is dead! Why should Barrera even fight then in March? And all due respect to the Filipino fight fans, and Oscar Larios, but why even have that fight? The why is because Erik Morales will get a third fight with Pacman, September 16, in a Las Vegas football stadium. You know, I?ve seen a boatload of ?super fights? that never materialized. One should never underestimate the might of Oscar Larios.
CAN MARCO HANG ON LONG ENOUGH?
The fight with Jesus Chavez, said to be either in dire peril, or called off, it was an even match on paper! The IBF guy is healthy, hungry, and talented. HBO?s Larry Merchant, is of the opinion that a loss at 135 to Chavez, were it to happen, would not be that big of a thing. I disagree. In order to keep the money at the ?ceiling? level for both Pacquiao and Barrera, neither man can lose until they meet.
NO RESPECT FOR ERIK ON EITHER SIDE OF BORDER!
Most experts, after watching Erik Morales get taken apart by Manny last month, think, as I do, that the third go around will be a mere formality, with Erik (48-4, 34 KO?s) getting hammered again. Even the fans of the mighty Mexican, who has been defeated by Barrera twice, Zahir Raheem, and Pacquiao back to back, know that he?s quickly gotten old. Mexican wise guys were saying that they?re dumping pesos on Pacquiao, as soon as the fight hits the Tijuana betting parlor boards.
