LAS VEGAS ? Marco Antonio Barrera and his promoter, Oscar dela Hoya, are not on the same page when it comes to the question of retirement.
While Barrera said this will be his last big fight, win, lose or draw, Dela Hoya believes that a victory over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday could change the entire picture.
?Never believe a fighter,? Dela Hoya told The STAR.
?Let?s just put it that way when Marco talks about retirement,? added Dela Hoya, a champion boxer himself and owner of Golden Boy Promotions.
Dela Hoya hinted that Barrera, pushing 34, may have spoken too early when he said this will be his last big fight, 18 years after he turned pro in Mexico City.
Barrera, as a 15-year-old flyweight, won his debut fight against David Felix, a knockout in the second round of a scheduled four-rounder. He won his next 42 fights and suffered his first setback to Junior Jones in 1996.
Barrera said he?s had enough and, with three world titles won in three different weight classes (super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight) really has nothing more to prove.
?It?s very difficult to say when a fighter retires and when a fighter hangs up his gloves,? said Dela Hoya.
A victory over Pacquiao on Saturday at Mandalay Bay, Dela Hoya added, will surely raise calls for a third and deciding fight.
Barrera and Pacquiao have fought Erik Morales thrice, and have come out of these trilogies on the winning end, 2-1.
?Absolutely,? Dela Hoya said of a rubber match should Barrera win this one and avenge his 2003 knockout loss to the Filipino in San Antonio, Texas.
?That sure has to happen. They will be one-and-one if Barrera wins. The beauty of boxing is that there?s always the revenge factor. Obviously if Barrera wins Pacquiao would like to have revenge,? he said.
Does Dela Hoya see the fight going the distance?
?Truthfully I don?t see it going the distance. I think Barrera knows that if he has to beat Pacquiao he has to knock him out. And obviously Pacquiao is coming in for the knockout.
?Pacquiao wants to stop, he wants to destroy, he wants to end Barrera?s career. That?s the mentality that Pacquiao comes up with into the ring. That?s the mentality every fighter should have,? he said.
Back to retirement, Barrera said there?s nothing that could change his mind, not even a victory on Saturday.
?That was a decision that I made with my family. Nothing?s going to change,? he said.
?Well, I?m just saying it from experience. But if Barrera is smart and if he plays his cards right, then he might be the first one to be saying the truth,? said Dela Hoya.
But first, Barrera has to beat Pacquiao.
