Marco Antonio Barrera is looking to shine April 9, now that rival Erik Morales has scored the biggest upset of 2005.
Morales overcame 3-1 odds to beat Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao on Saturday in Las Vegas — the same Pacquiao who dominated Barrera in 2003. With a lucrative fourth showdown between Mexico City’s Barrera and Tijuana’s Morales looming, the “Baby-Faced Assassin” is hoping to look sharp against Mzonke Fana at the Don Haskins Center in an HBO Pay-Per-View show that will be blacked out in the El Paso/Las Cruces area.
“The fact that Morales beat Pacquiao means that Barrera wants to be taking care of this kid from South Africa,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Barrera’s promoter. “Barrera wants to prove he is the true champion of Mexico.”
Barrera, the recognized junior lightweight champ, and Morales have engaged in what generally is regarded as the best trilogy of the generation. Morales won a disputed decision in 2000’s “Fight of the Year;” Barrera won a disputed decision in 2002; and Barrera won the rubber match via close decision in 2004’s “Fight of the Year” last Nov. 27.
A fourth fight — a rarity in boxing these days — could be next if Barrera beats Fana.
“I think Morales said it well,” Schaefer said. “It is really up to the fans to decide what they want to see, whether it be a Morales-Pacquiao rematch or Barrera-Morales 4. We’ll see.”
Indeed, Morales-Pacquiao 2 isn’t such a bad proposition after Saturday’s bloody, brutal war at the MGM Grand. But fans likely can’t get enough of Barrera and Morales.
Not that Barrera doesn’t have options. Schaefer said he could stay at 130 pounds and fight Argentina’s Jorge Barrios, or move up to 135 pounds and fight WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz, providing he gets by Fana.
“There are a lot of interesting, possible scenarios,” he said.
Schaefer insists that Barrera is not overlooking Fana.
“When Barrera fought Pacquiao, he was a big favorite,” he said. “Who would have thought it would turn out like that? You just never know. (Fana) will come ready. He knows it’s his chance to shine.”
On-site coordinator Lester Bedford said 4,500 tickets remain for the nine-fight
