Unlike the first time out, Marco Antonio Barrera vows to be ready and guarantees a different result if ever he gets to fight Manny Pacquiao the second time round.
In an interview with Boxingtalk.com, Barrera’s adviser Roberto Diaz reiterated their call for Pacquiao to agree to a rematch with the WBC (World Boxing Council) super-featherweight champion even as he assured boxing fans of both camps of a great fight between two of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
“Marco does not bring up excuses, but we all know what happened on the first fight. Manny won, he won clearly, but come Fight 2, Marco will be ready, and we will see a new Barrera,” Diaz told Brad Cooney of Boxingtalk.com.
Barrera, through the Golden Boy Promotions, has challenged Pacquiao, the WBC No. 1 challenger, to a mandatory defense of his crown. In a separate letter, the WBC has given Pacquiao seven days to accept or reject the offer.
However, Pacquiao’s American trainer the other day shot down the overture, saying his ward is booked to fight twice this year — a late-June or early-July tune-up for his highly-anticipated rubber match with Erik Morales in September.
Roach also came up with a counteroffer, proposing that Barrera take on Pacquiao’s brother Bobby instead.
Barrera’s camp took it good-naturedly.
“Well honestly, when I read that I laughed. I thought that was pretty much funny. Where did that name come from? Bobby Pacquiao? Is Manny now not wanting to fight Marco, did they see something? Did Freddie see something? I don’t know, does Freddie know something and doesn’t want to say it?” said Diaz. “We are going after the big shark, not the little fish in the sea.”
But definitely, Diaz said they have notified their promoters to get the job (Pacquiao-Barrera II) done.
“I want to let the people know that Barrera wants this fight against Pacquiao. There is a thorn in Marco’s side, he’s very quiet about it. Marco doesn’t call out fighters, he does his work in the ring,” said Diaz. “So believe me, we will get this fight, it’s just around the corner.”
He added: “To all of Barrera’s fans, the time has come. Marco will get his revenge, he will get his fight with Pacquiao.”
The Gen. Santos is actually scheduled to fight Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum in late June or early July but HBO, which handles Larios, called off the fight due to unstable political climate here. Larios is now eyeing a third clash with Israel Vasquez.
Barrera is also set to fight Jesus Chaves but the latter sustained an injury, leaving an in-form Barrera without an opponent.
“We’re having a great camp in preparation for Chaves, but he got injured so that was that. We then went after Juan Diaz, but he and Team Cotto had negotiations going on, so our promoter right now, Richard Schaefer, is working very hard to get a fight for Barrera in May.
He stressed that the Barrera-Pacquiao rematch will definitely be a great thing for the sport.
“Filipino fans have so much enthusiasm for Pacquiao, and for good reason. Pacquiao has done a lot, he’s a great fighter, he’s an exciting fighter, he’s tremendous, and good for boxing. Boxing fans on both sides will see a great fight, and we are excited about it,” said Diaz.
