Muhammad, who used to be a bodyguard in former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali?s entourage, recently told Ivan Goldman of World Boxing Magazine he agreed to pit Pacquiao against Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio on Nov. 15 because “if we win, Pacquiao will immediately come out of it as a major, major pay-per-view commodity (and) if we lose, he will get a great deal of experience?that?s what fighting?s all about, taking risks.”
According to Goldman, it was Barrera who instructed Golden Boy Promotions? Richard Schaeffer to arrange the fight against Pacquiao. Apparently, Barrera didn?t relish the sight of Pacquiao knocking out his Mexican countryman Emmanuel Lucero in Los Angeles last July. “Barrera doesn?t like to see Mexican fighters put to sleep,” said Goldman.
