“We want the big shark, not the little fish.”
This was the reaction of Roberto Diaz, adviser of world super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, to Freddie Roach’s suggestion that the Mexican take on Manny Pacquiao’s brother, Bobby, instead.
Diaz said Barrera wants a rematch with Pacquiao badly, adding the only thing that got in the way since their first encounter in 2003, that Pacquiao won by stoppage in the 11th round, were conflicting schedules.
“I think everyone has been waiting for this fight, the fans deserve it, and Marco wants it bad,” Diaz told boxingtalk.com.
Roach on Tuesday said two-time world champion Manny Pacquiao should prepare for an interim fight and possibly a third encounter with Erik Morales as stipulated in their contract last January. Pacquiao stopped Morales in the 10th round of a 12-round eliminator last January, making up for his defeat by unanimous decision to Morales in March 2005.
Roach countered, probably tongue-in-cheek, that instead of the elder Pacquiao, Barrera should fight the younger Bobby, also a super featherweight.
Diaz acknowledged the suggestion was “funny.”
“When I read that I laughed. I thought that was pretty much funny. Is Manny now not wanting to fight Marco?” Diaz said.
“The last thing I remember about Bobby Pacquiao was him losing, and getting a gift decision against (Carlos) ‘El Famoso’ Hernandez. The way we see it at team Barrera and Team Golden Boy is that we are going after the big shark, not the little fish,” he said.
“We got the letter from the WBC letting us know that the mandatory title defense against Manny Pacquiao was coming up in the months ahead, and that we should begin negotiations, and that’s where our promoters at Golden Boy, Richard Schaefer, Eric Gomez and Raul Jaimes have been doing.
“I think right now after Manny’s convincing win over Erik Morales, Manny is on top of the world. Marco is the unified champion at 130 pounds, so let’s make the fight.
“If Pacquiao’s people don’t see it that way, they have to understand that Marco has other avenues, there are a couple of world champions we can unify, or go up to lightweight division.”
Barrera had been lined up to face Jesus Chaves and later Juan Diaz but both fights did not materialize, forcing the camp of the fighter known as “The Baby-Faced Assassin” looking for a fight in May.
“But this (Pacquiao-Barrera) is the fight that everyone wants to see, and I think we should give it to them,” added Diaz. “We will get this fight. It is just a round the corner. The time has come. Marco will get his revenge.”
Diaz also said Pacquiao “won clearly” in their first match, “but come fight two Marco will be ready, and we will see a new Marco.”
