LAS VEGAS ? Manny Pacquiao and Mexico?s beloved Marco Antonio Barrera bumped into each other Thursday afternoon at the lobby of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay as the Filipino was prepariing to leave for training.
Fortunately, there were no punches thrown and the two immediately smiled at each other, shook hands and posed for pictures.
Then, Barrera, who was stopped by Pacquiao in Nov. 2003 and was outpointed almost six months ago, leaned towards Pacquiao?s left ear and whispered something that made Pacquiao smile.
After a few seconds of exchanging pleasantries, Pacquiao headed towards his dark-colored van en route to the IBA Compound, grinning from earto-ear.
“Barrera told me that his heart goes to Marquez, but his money is for Pacquiao,” said Pacquiao
Barrera will be one of many celebrities from the world of prizefighting, showbiz and politics who will be at ringside at the Events Center on Saturday night for the slugfest dubbed “Unfinished Business.”
Earlier, Barrera told Manila-based scribes that “I am Mexican so I support Mexican.”
“Marquez and Pacquiao will fight for 12 rounds and I think there will be more explosion, more action,” said Barrera, who also had lost to Marquez by way of a disputable decision in March 2007.
Aside from Barrera, also in attendance during fight night are Venezuelan knockout king Edwin Valero ? who arrived with Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda ? and another Mexican legend, Erik Morales.
Filipino sportsman Hermie Esguerra, a multitled horseracer, said Morales will arrive here in Sin City on Friday (Saturday in Manila) from his hometown of Tijuana, which is just a stone?s throw away from San Diego, California.
“I spoke with him before I left (Manila) and he told me that he is coming to watch Pacquiao-Marquez,” said Esguerra, who joined Morales on top of the ring when El Terriblle fought David Diaz in Chicago in August last year.
Esguerra played host to Morales when the popular banger visited the Philippines for business and pleasure early last year.
Morales came to Manila with his wife Andrea and they were brought to the world-famous resort of Amanpulo in Palawan on a private jet leased by Esguerra.
