MANILA, Philippines — That?s Manny Pacquiao?s clear intent in crushing Marco Antonio Barrera?s October hunt for redemption at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Filipino idol is itching to repeat his 11th round stoppage of the Mexican three-time world champ whose recklessness at the Alamodome in San Antonio almost ruined his livelihood.
Makes one wonder why Barrera would want to risk it all again.
But Barrera is one good fighter who is now doing it right.
The ring-savvy Guadalajaran has become attractive to promoters — unbeaten since his Texas collapse, less the theft of his WBC super featherweight belt he defended against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.
Now, Marco is into a bold experiment — that of engaging the services of Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan lefty who has iced all of his 22 victims (pedicab drivers?).
So far there?s been no hints of distraction in Marco?s preparations.
Nothing vexed Manny?s camp either, save for a minor ailment which was readily remedied.
We will know soon if this imported sparmate can deliver for the ?assassin? who has been ranting he?ll smash the Pacman for avoiding him like the hated tax hound.
Valero must help his new-found padrino. Otherwise, Se?or Barrera?s worst fear of getting kayoed again will happen.
Marco?s toughness is a given. But his ability to extricate himself from a Pacquiao-orchestrated bind remains his chief headache as we move closer to the highly awaited classic.
OK, there?s a chance the multi-titled Mex can pull an upset. But he has to negate Manny?s speed in the heated exchanges or else a bad loss will mark the end of Barrera as a world-class fighter.
Not an easy task since Marco is up against a master mangler who nearly converted his boxing license into a sales document that permits him to sell pencils in his cozy Guadalajara.
Fight fans generally want to watch action-sated smokers spiced by punches that twist a fighter?s face which their own moms can?t recognize.
No problem. In this bout, both combatants are capable of providing one-punch knockouts or the multi-blow variety.
There will be more power punches thrown than those executed in their first encounter –making it a compelling theater steeped in high drama.
No title is at stake this time as decreed by the promoters.
The WBC has been imposing its International title belt to extract unjustified sanction fees from the involved fighters.
It?s one of the greatest perfidies since the sale of the Brooklyn bridge more than once by con artists in various eras.
