Matchup: Marco Antonio Barrera (63-5, 42 KOs) vs. WBC international super featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KOs), 12 rounds, 8 p.m. Saturday, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, HBO Pay-Per-View ($49.95)
Setting it up: This is the rematch of their 2003 fight at the Alamodome, a fight that launched Pacquiao on his way to stardom. Since his demolition of Barrera that night, the Filipino flash made mincemeat of some of Mexico’s finest fighters, including Erik Morales (twice), Hector Velazquez and Oscar Larios. Pacquiao is widely considered boxing’s most exciting fighter, if not its pound-for-pound best. Although coming off a loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Barrera has resurrected his career after the defeat to Pacquiao with victories over Paulie Ayala, Morales and Rocky Juarez (twice).
Breaking it down: Pacquiao dominated Barrera from the opening bell in their first meeting. Will there be any carryover in the rematch? Barrera will have to be better prepared for Pacquiao’s aggression this time. Barrera will have to match Pacquiao’s work rate and make him pay for his aggressiveness. Pacquiao has trouble with rough boxer-punchers. At 33, after so many ring battles, can Barrera be that kind of fighter?
Prediction: Never underestimate Barrera. He is one of the sport’s true greats. Although Pacquiao might not be able to duplicate his first fight with Barrera, he’s simply too young, too explosive, too dynamic for Barrera. Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
Viewer rating: out of five stars
STRAIGHT SHOTS
To celebrate their first promotion in three years, Bob Arum will return Oscar De La Hoya’s 1992 Olympic gold medal Monday at a luncheon in Los Angeles. Arum received the medal from De La Hoya several years ago and kept it as the result of an on-going feud that recently ended. . . . “Sugar” Shane Mosley discounted a recent Sports Illustrated story, tying him to BALCO founder Victor Conte. Mosley maintains he told the truth when he told a grand jury four years that he unknowingly took performance enhancing supplements in 2003.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“These pictures are obviously fabricated and I’ve been advised by my attorneys not to comment further, Obviously, I’m convinced that this whole mess will be cleared up.”
—Oscar De La Hoya, regarding a series of embarrassing photos of him on the Internet dressed in women’s underwear
LOCAL NOTEBOOK
Quiroga tribute: The annual tribute to Robert Quiroga, called the RoQ and Ride Community Fest, is set for Oct. 7 at Caliente Harley Davidson, at Culebra and Loop 410. The daylong celebration includes an amateur boxing card, beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free until 3 p.m. and $5 per person after that.
Rios bout: San Antonio bantamweight Joseph Rios (2-0) is scheduled to take on Leodegario Santa Cruz (1-0-1) in a four-round bout Friday at Camp Verde, Ariz.
LBC tournament: The LBC senior tournament is set for Nov. 15-17 at “Jesse” James Leija Gym. Details are TBA, but the amateur tournament has an open division for male and female boxers age 17 and over.
UFC numbers: UFC 76, which featured Chuck Liddell’s surprising loss, generated 1,566 buys locally, according to a spokesman for Time Warner Cable.
“That’s about average for a UFC event,” Jon Gary Herrera said.
