MARCO Antonio Barrera, the first Mexican boxing great Manny Pacquiao humbled in 2003, has abandoned plans of meeting the champion Filipino fighter in the near future.
With Pacquiao’s masterful demolition last Saturday of Erik Morales still in everybody’s lips, Barrera announced yesterday he had signed up to challenge International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight champion Jesus Chavez on March 25.
Barrera, the reigning World Boxing Council and IBF super featherweight, had delayed finalizing the fight with Chavez, saying he wanted to see first what happens to the rematch between his two big rivals.
Apparently, Barrera saw the writing on the wall, and realized that fighting Pacquiao in the immediate future constitutes a career suicide. The Filipino had stopped Barrera in the 11th round of a non-title clash three years ago.
Dubbed “The Ultimate Challenge” and presented by Golden Boy Promotions, the Barrera-Chavez showdown will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised by HBO.
As if to justify his decision, Barrera said the fight with Chavez gives him the chance of making history as the first ever Mexican-born fighter to win titles in four different divisions.
Trainer Freddie Roach, meanwhile, had refused to name a possible opponent for Pacquiao, although American Tim Austin, the former IBF bantam champ, had announced in media releases that he was willing to travel to the Philippines if that is what it takes to snag a fight with the Filipino ring icon.
Roach had hinted that the Filipino superstar may opt to fight next in the Philippines.
(Salven L. Lagumbay is a contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer-Ed)
