Marco Antonio Barrera isn’t too keen on an immediate rematch with Manny Pacquiao, after all.
In a recent interview with Boxingtalk.com, Barrera said he doesn’t want to sidestep an opponent his handlers have been working out for him following the cancellation of his March 25 fight with injured Jesus Chavez, stressing that his highly-anticipated rematch with Pacquiao should come at the right moment.
“I want to see what’s going to happen,” said Barrera, referring to his proposed May 20 fight with Rocky Juarez, the Houston fighter who has been tapped to take on Chavez’s spot.
“I never like to sidestep or look over an opponent. If Rocky Juarez is next, then our attention goes to him or whoever the next opponent is going to be. If not, and if Manny Pacquiao is my next fight, then I welcome it. If it happens to be after my next fight, then we will sit down and discuss it. But right now, it’s the fight on hand.”
The Pacquiao-Barrera II came into fore after the reigning WBC super featherweight champion expressed his willingness to rumble with the Filipino icon, the No. 1 challenger in the WBC ranking, following the scrapping of his fight with Chavez.
The WBC then directed Pacquiao to reply within seven days whether or not to accept the challenge.
But Pacquiao isn’t too hot to take on Barrera again this soon and has reiterated his desire to stage his tune-up match here in Manila for his rubber match with Erik Morales in September.
However, should Morales, whom Pacquiao stopped in their second match last January via a convincing 10th round TKO victory in Las Vegas, choose not to slug it out with the Filipino southpaw in September, Barrera said he is open for a second fight with Pacquiao.
“Everything is always possible in this sport. But right now, I am waiting to see what my promoters will tell me who to fight next. If it is Juarez, we will concentrate 100 percent. And when the moment comes, we will be able to discuss the second fight with Pacquiao. But at the right moment,” Barrera said.
Barrera, whom Pacquiao demolished via 11th round TKO in 2003 to gain worldwide recognition, said his loss to the Gen. Santos native was a “thorn in his side” and the Mexican legend is raring to get even with him and restore the Mexican pride in the division.
“I’m very committed to re-establish our stake in this division. It’s very important to restore this that’s why I will dedicate myself 100 percent,” said Barrera.
Meanwhile, the WBC has warned Pacquiao to decide whether or not he’s willing to face Barrera or lose the top ranking.
Barrera last week dared Pacquiao to a rematch. Reports said Pacquiao was given seven days or until today to decide.
The WBC, through its president Jose Sulaiman, is just as eager as Barrera to get Pacquiao’s word on the rematch. It seemed that the Filipino is not taking the offer seriously, saying the Mexican champ is just trying to make some noise.
“The WBC will follow strictly its rules. If the challenger (Pacquiao) refused, and the champion (Barrera) has already accepted the fight, the WBC will select the highest available challenger next,” Sulaiman was reported as saying.
— Dante Navarro/Abac Cordero
