CHICAGO ? The punches came in waves. Heavy, full of malice and unrelenting. When the savage fury of fists finally stopped with four seconds left in the 11th round, Marco Antonio Barrera was beaten to a pulp, awash in exhaustion as a hungrier and infinitely stronger Manny Pacquiao emerged as unquestionably the best featherweight of his generation.
Such was the story of yesterday?s rumble at the Alamodome in Texas. Youth conquered experience, power neutralized craft. Pacquiao landed a total of 309 of 838 punches, 257 of which were hit so hard even Barrera?s left breast tattoo tried to duck. The Mexican legend ran, but he couldn?t hide.
