Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao, 41-3-2, 33 KO’s, is one of the most popular and exciting fighters in the game. He has defined his career with knockout victories over two all time greats: Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. The unbelievable accuracy and herky-jerky movements of the Philippine superstar have proven effective in his two biggest victories. Unfortunately, his wins were so dominant that the appeal of rematches may not completely be there and he may be forced to move up in weight and take on challenges where he will be the decided underdog.
Before any more weight can be added to the one-time, 106 pound Pacquiao, there are two scheduled bouts that are going to take place at the super featherweight limit. On July 2nd, Oscar Larios, 56-4-1, 36 KO’s, will be the next Mexican warrior determined to stand up to the power and timing of the WBC International Super Featherweight Champion. Larios is battle-tested, but his chin is questionable and that is the worst trait that you can have if you are facing the Pacman. Larios has a stoppage win over the tough, yet feather-fisted, Wayne McCullough and will stand up to Pacquiao, but judging by his record and the fact that he has been knocked out twice by lesser opponents, you have to favor the champion to retain his title with another spectacular knockout win.
If everything goes according to plan, a third and presumably final showdown with Erik Morales, 48-4, 34 KO’s, will be up next. In the first encounter, Morales fought a very measured and focused fight. He never allowed Pacquiao to get into position to land the haymakers that did so much damage to prior opponents. Juan Manuel Marquez had written the blue print to beat him in their memorable draw as the rounds went on, and Morales built on that and cruised to a close, but unanimous decision. The second bout was the time for the Pacman to either fade into obscurity or make his mark as one of the big players in the game. Using a steady body attack and utilizing the right hook, the tables were turned and it was over in the tenth round. Manny Pacquiao had avenged his defeat, but now they will meet for a third time and the better man will be revealed.
What has to be considered as we look ahead to this rubber match is that every great champion usually has one great fight left in him. Morales was a great champion and is not taking a third encounter for the payday. He wants to prove that he wasn’t shut out by Zahir Raheem and obliterated by Manny Pacquiao due to the fact that he is a spent force. He wants to show the world that he had lost focus and it had cost him two bouts and he now wants to defeat the only man ever to stop him just as he did in the first encounter. This is a very dangerous bout for the Pacman, but he should win it. Time has caught up with Morales and he has lost three of his last four bouts and the last two times that we saw him in the ring, he looked horrible.
With two more knockout wins on his record, should he defeat Larios and Morales as most expect, Marco Antonio Barrera is apparently next on the list in a rematch of their 2003 bout. There is a lot of demand for this bout because many contend that “The Baby Faced Assassin” had an off night and really didn’t know what he was up against. Since the loss, Barrera has rebounded with five straight wins, and is a logical opponent for Pacquiao at this time. In their first meeting, the Mexican star took a vicious beating, eventually having enough in the eleventh round. This seemed like the end of the road for Barrera, but he has bounced back and will go where the money is and the most that he’s going to make is in a rematch with the man that completely destroyed him.
With Julio Cesar Chavez at the end of his long and illustrious career, Marco Antonio Barrera took over as the most popular Mexican star and he is a national hero to his people. It seems to me that he is basically being forced into this rematch because of the money that can be made by the promoters and others involved and by his fans that don’t want to believe that he had lost to a better man. Keep in mind that he started his career in 1989 and he’s been in countless wars. For him to show this resilience in the cruelest game is amazing. When he lost that bout, it was the passing of the torch, in my opinion, but nobody wants to believe that it’s true. Make no mistake, Barrera will fight with everything that he has and he has a huge heart and plenty of grit, but if he’s facing a puncher like the Pacman, he is putting himself into a dangerous situation.
In Barrera’s last bout, he eked by Rocky Juarez and took a beating along the way. It was obvious by his performance that the reflexes had really faded and the long road was coming to an end. He won that fight on experience, reputation, and grit, but the amount of punishment he took in that bout has to make Team Barrera rethink a rematch with Pacquiao. If that bout should take place, things could turn out very badly with a once great warrior being carried away. There haven’t been many boxers that have been able to turn the tables and avenge a loss when it was so one-sided. This wasn’t a close decision loss…it was a dominant knockout defeat and a rematch will produce the same…maybe even worse. I think that it is time for Barrera to ride off into the sunset and allow the younger guns a shot at the Pacman.
An exciting super featherweight has made a statement recently with a 49 second knockout over the previously undefeated, Janos Nagy. Jorge Barrios, 46-2-1, 33 KO’s, is an arrogant, colorful, and powerful opponent with knockout power in both hands. In his only defeat that wasn’t a disqualification, Barrios was in a Foreman-Lyle type of bout with the current WBO Lightweight Champion, Acelino Freitas, eventually losing on a TKO in the final round. He has now won seven in a row, with four of them ending by knockout and is ready to challenge the Pacman.
If Pacquiao seeks the huge money and a bigger place in history, he will move up to lightweight. He may not be big enough according to many, but his power may just overcome the size that he lacks. The big money bout that has been discussed is with Diego “Chico” Corrales, 40-3, 33 KO’s. In my opinion, this bout presents the most risk and the most reward. Corrales is a huge lightweight with one-punch, knockout power and a heavyweight heart. He is a two-time world champion and would present many problems for the Pacman. Without question this bout would bring in a lot of money. If I were to advise Pacquiao, I would tell him to avoid Corrales, but from a fan’s perspective, I would love to see this bout.
Another boxer that is a possibility as an opponent is the WBO Lightweight Champion, Acelino “Popo” Freitas, 38-1, 32 KO’s. This is probably the best match up for the Pacman if he chooses to move up. With the awkward style and susceptibility to straight punches, Freitas may just be made to order for Pacquiao if he cannot use his strength to just steamroll him. It’s a chance for the Pacman to move up in weight, grab a title, and etch his name into the history books as a man that has moved up and won titles in different divisions. This is another fan-friendly bout that would certainly give the people their money’s worth, and if we see a lightweight version of the Pacman, I would like to see him in the ring with “Popo.”
The future is very bright for Manny Pacquiao at this time and there are many options for him. He is in the driver’s seat and is in a position to make a lot of money, unless he should lose to Larios or Morales. He needs to win those two bouts in order to set up what would be the biggest paydays of his career. It would be nice to see him in the ring with Barrios at this point, or a move up to lightweight. A bout with Marco Antonio Barrera would not be that compelling of a match in my opinion. He needs to move onto bigger and more competitive things, and I’m certain that he will. Manny Pacquiao has never avoided a challenge as obvious by his list of opponents, and I think that it’s safe to say that we will one day in the near future see him in against a young lion, or with some extra added weight put on in hopes of winning a title in another division. I don’t think that he can beat Diego Corrales, but many said that in 2003 regarding his bout with Barrera. Maybe he can surprise us again.
