MANILA, Philippines — Reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez predicts that Manny Pacquiao will again overpower his compatriot Marco Antonio Barrera when the two clash on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Marquez should know.
“I fought Pacquiao and I fought Barrera,” Marquez told the ring website Boxingtalk. “I won against Barrera and I had a draw against Pacquiao.
“I know Pacquiao hits harder than Barrera and I know Barrera doesn’t have what it takes to win over Pacquiao. Pacquiao is faster and stronger.”
Marquez, however, is rooting for Barrera, who was stopped by Pacquiao in the 11th round in their first meeting in 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’ll go for Barrera because he’s Mexican, but I know that Pacquiao is going to win,” the champion said.
Having been felled by Pacquiao three times in the first round before scrounging for a controversial draw in 2004, Marquez is also aching for a rematch with the Filipino, acknowledged as the world’s most exciting fighter today.
But before a rematch with Pacquiao can take place, Marquez will have to stake his WBC title in a choice defense against Jorge Barrios of Argentina on September 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena also in Las Vegas.
“I’m very happy to have the fight,” said Marquez. “It’s a very special day for Mexicans. It’s Independence Day.
Marquez admits that fighting Jorge Barrios is not going to be easy, “but I’m going to prepare myself the best way I can so I can give my best on fight day.”
On November 15, 2003, Pacquiao came in as a huge underdog but bludgeoned Barrera into submission at the Alamodome. Barrera had been seeking a rematch with Pacquiao, but icy relations between his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and Pacquiao’s handler Top Rank had put that plan on hold.
The rematch was finally forged after GBP and Top Rank recently ended years of animosity following a successful mediation presided over by former judge Daniel Weinstein.
Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach, believe that Barrera continues to be a formidable and dangerous opponent despite the latter’s loss to Marquez in his last fight.
