Fans had written Marco Antonio Barrera off the map after he was dominated by Manny Pacquiao last November. Some experts felt that Barrera had gotten old and should hang up the gloves. Even Barrera’s trainer said after the Pacquiao fight that he did not want Marco to fight again. Marco not only came back in June but came back strong by stopping the always tought Paulie Ayala in dominating fashion. It was the first time that Ayala had been stopped in his entire career. BoxingScene caught up with Marco to get his thoughts on the November rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
BoxingScene: It was a pretty rough fight for you with Pacquiao the first time. What went wrong in the first fight and what can you do different againt him in the rematch?
Barrera: The fight against Pacquiao was a bad night and I have no excuses. He was the better fighter that night. This time it will be different. I know what he can do and I know what I can do.
BoxingScene: How will it be different the second time around?
Barrera: The first time it was about competition, to be the best….this time it is about revenge. I will train very hard and I will be very prepared. I am focused on reclaiming my position (pound for pound) in boxing.
BoxingScene: What are your thoughts on Pacquiao?
Barrera: I have respect for him. He is one of the best in the world, a great champion……a very strong fighter.
BoxingScene: The public seems to be crying for the aggressive Barrera who fought Erik Morales the first time around and picked apart Ayala. Will we see you unleash the beast inside you in the rematch?
Barrera: You may see my aggressive style in this fight but it will be smart aggression because I respect the power of Pacquiao, he is a hard puncher.
BoxingScene: Some feel that Juan Marquez exposed Pacquiao in their fight as a one-dimensional fighter, did you see any flaws in that fight?
Barrera: I saw things in that fight but every fight is different. Some fighters don’t make the same mistakes twice. If he makes some of the mistakes I saw, it will be to my advantage but I can’t make a (fight) plan on what he did wrong against another fighter.
BoxingScene: There is already word that Pacquiao is set to face Juan Marquez in early 2005, do you think that his camp is overlooking you based on your performance in the first fight?
Barrera: It will be to my advantage if they are looking past me. I never look past any fighter, regardless of what others may say about them. I looked past (Junior) Jones and never made that mistake again.
BoxingScene: Some say that the camp of Pacquiao made the same mistake when he faced Marquez, by already making plans for a Morales bout. You will be an underdog in this fight, you were an underdog twice before when you fought Morales the first time and against Hamed. Those two fights became the two best fights of your career, the two that fans remember most. Does being the underdog motivate you to perform at a higher level?
Barrera: Being an underdog is motivation for any fighter to perform at a higher level, I am very motivated to win this fight and put on a great performance.
BoxingScene: Do you have a message to the fans in closing?
Barrera: I want to thank everyone who supports me, my family, Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy and my fans.
