Marco Antonio Barrera is desperate for revenge against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.
The Mexican great suffered a shocking 11th-round TKO at the hands of the ‘Pacman’ in their first meeting in San Antonio in November 2003.
In Las Vegas on Saturday the pair meet again, and Barrera wants to head off into retirement by exorcising the ghosts of that embarrassing loss.
He said: “This is a personal fight for me. It’s very personal. I’m taking it personal. He beat me so I have to get my revenge.”
Barrera says the memory of that defeat by Pacquiao in their first fight still hurts, but is convinced Saturday night will be different.
“Obviously I had a bad night. I’m not going to make any excuses. It was a bad night. But the difference in this fight is that training has been great. It’s been great. I’ve had a great training camp. And there’s no excuses.
“The first time it was a total meltdown. He says, you know, I can’t really take anything from that fight. It was Manny’s night. He took it to me. But this time I’m really inspired, my training camp has been real relaxed with no problems. Everything has been going really smooth.”
Barrera has said already that this will be his last fight, and as we count down to the big night itself he says he’s not changing his mind.
“It’s a decision I made. I basically am planning to retire. It’s not a decision I made overnight. It’s been, you know, within the last three years, I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve talked it over with my wife, with my family, with my friends and it’s something that I really want to do.
“I just feel that I’ve been in this sport for so many years, 26 years I’ve been in this sport; 18 as a fighter. And I’m ready to pass the torch. Pass it on to like fighters like Edwin Valero. All those guys out there that are calling out my name that want to fight me, let Valero fight them.”
Safe in the knowledge that he doesn’t have to save himself for future battles, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ says he’s ready to give his all to avenge that painful defeat from 2003.
“It was just a bad night. I had very good fights after that. A big win against Erik Morales to regain the title. It was just a bad night and I learned from it. I just say it was experience and I learned from that experience.
“The motivation has been there ever since I signed the contract for this fight. I’m motivated because it’s personal. I’m motivated because I want to dedicate this fight to the Latin people.”
As well as fighting for the Latin people, Barrera concludes by saying he’s also fighting for his fellow Mexican fighters on Saturday, many of whom have been put to the sword by Pacquiao.
“It’s been a thorn in my side because he’s beaten so many Mexicans and obviously I want to put a stop to that. I want to put a stop to that. I mean, he’s beaten not only me. Other Mexicans have suffered, they’ve been defeated by him. So I want to put a stop to that.”
