Marco Antonio Barrera is ready to slay the ghost of Mandalay Bay where he has fought twice and lost twice.
?I?m going to fight there a third time and I?m going to see how I can break that bad gust of wind,? Barrera told the Mexican press barely 17 days before his rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
?It?s true I suffered two defeats at Mandalay but I?m convinced that I did not lose them. I?m sure I won those fights,? said Barrera, said to be training like hell for the coming fight dubbed ?Will to Win.?
Barrera?s first of two losses at Mandalay came in Feb. 19, 2000 when he lost to the then undefeated Erik Morales via split decision for the WBC and WBO super-bantamweight crowns.
The second came only last March 17 when he lost, unanimously in the eyes of the judges, to Juan Manuel Marquez, and yielded his WBC super-featherweight title.
Barrera?s three other career losses were against Pacquiao in 2003 and Junior Jones who defeated the Mexican twice ? in 1996 in Florida and in 1997 in Vegas, at the Hilton Hotel.
Barrera is undefeated in seven fights at the MGM Grand, in two fights at Caesars Palace, and some other venues. He has fought 15 times in Vegas.
Still, his ring record shows that he?s winless at Mandalay.
?The important thing now is the preparation, and that the jury works well. All rings are generally equal,? added the former champion in three different weight classes.
Barrera, who turns 34 on Jan. 17, was barely 15 when he turned pro in 1989. He has 63 wins (42 KOs) and five losses. He won his first 43 fights and absorbed his first defeat by disqualification ? against Jones.
The 28-year-old Pacquiao, 44-3-2 (35 KOs) since turning pro in 1995, has only fought five times in Vegas, thrice at the MGM (1-1-1) and twice at the Thomas and Mack Center, beating Morales twice. Pacquiao has never fought at Mandalay, but should carry all the beginner?s luck the moment he sets foot at the famous casino-resort.
