On November 15, 2003, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao annihilated then WBC Featherweight Kingpin, Marco Antonio Barrera, in a fight where the favored Barrera was battered throughout, and dropped twice prior to being stopped in the 11th round. As always, Barrera fought courageously but appeared shopworn, and his iconic career looked to be drawing to a brutal conclusion in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
However, since the Pacquiao debacle, “The Baby Faced Assassin” has moved up in weight and reeled off 6 straight wins, including a rubber match majority decision victory over long time nemesis, Erik Morales, for the WBC Super Featherweight Crown and a pair of hard fought unanimous decision triumphs over U.S. Olympian turned contender, Rocky Juarez. The latter Juarez fight was a veritable clinic in which Barrera jabbed and fought his way to a clear cut win, in contrast to their initial go-round, wherein he eked out a split decision nod after persistently standing toe to toe with the formidable Texan. Barrera’s retirement may conceivably be looming just over the horizon, but his latest bouts indicate that he remains a complete fighter, an intense competitor, and a force to be reckoned with, justifying his current #6 rating in Ring Magazine’s Pound for Pound listings.
Manny Pacquiao is a relentless boxing juggernaut whose best defense is a relentless two fisted attack that has prematurely ended more than 70% of his 48 fights. After the Barrera contest, “Pacman” has emerged victorious in 5 of his next 7 bouts, including a 12 round unanimous decision win over tough, gallant former WBC Super Bantamweight Champ, Oscar Larios and two awe-inspiring KO victories over Pacquiao’s IBHOF bound previous conqueror, Erik Morales, for the WBC International Super Featherweight Championship. During this time frame, Pacquiao also fought a disputed 12 round draw with highly regarded WBA/IBF Champ, Juan Manuel Marquez, in which Pacquiao let “Dinamita” off the hook after blasting him to the canvas three times in the opening stanza.
Manny’s recent ring performances have been slightly more inconsistent than Barrera’s, but there is no denying his rightful place near the apex of the pugilistic heap. As such, he is listed at #3 in Ring Magazine’s Pound for Pound rankings behind former light middleweight titleholder, Winky Wright, and multi-belt holding Welterweight Champion, Floyd Mayweather, JR., and is rated the WBC’s #1 contender for Barrera’s title. With no other truly viable or financially attractive worlds to conquer, these two warriors are again facing each other in a battle to enhance their fistic legacies.
The chronicles of boxing tell us that in bouts where fighters absorb one sided beatings from an opponent, they will more than likely fare similarly or worse in a rematch. The Joe Louis–Abe Simon, George Foreman-Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali–Floyd Patterson, and Sonny Liston–Floyd Patterson matches and rematches come to mind as exemplifying this theorem, and there are countless others on point. Is there cause to believe that Barrera-Pacquiao II will prove an exception to this rule and result in a Superfight rather than an execution?
Marco Antonio Barrera is a skilled boxing technician who can slug when the need arises. He has an excellent jab, goes hard to the body with both hands, is very strong defensively and remains reasonably fleet of foot. As witnessed in his recent fights with Rocky Juarez, Barrera can adjust well to his opponents’ techniques and strategies, boxing or brawling his way to victory where the situation requires. However, while Juarez is an excellent pro, he is in no way, shape or form to be confused with Manny Pacquiao. Further, despite his elite status, Barrera has been fighting professionally for the last 17 years and unless he has located a time machine, his skills at age 32 are degrading, while the 28 year old Pacquiao is reaching the zenith of his powers.
In their first bout, Pacquiao overwhelmed Barrera from the opening bell until Barrera’s corner mercifully halted the action. Whatever offense Barrera offered was largely ineffectual, and he was unable to prevent Pacquiao from executing his own game plan with devastating effect. The result was the shocking, systematic demolition of a world class fighter who had not been dominated in this manner since a 1997, 12 round pasting by former WBO Super Bantamweight Titlist, Junior Jones.
Following the Pacquiao fight, Barrera praised his conqueror but referenced distractions, including changes in management and the public/media firestorm arising from Barrera’s revelation that he had undergone brain surgery in 1997 to remove an abnormal vein, and was fighting with a protective metal plate installed in his skull. Let’s give Barrera the benefit of the doubt and suppose that his assertions regarding the first Pacquiao fight are correct. It will make little difference. At this stage of their respective careers, Pacquiao’s strength and unceasing effective aggression are far too much for Barrera to handle, and he will be defeated again, if not by stoppage, than by a one sided decision. History, common sense, and the law of the jungle tell us so.
Of course, with Pacquiao’s legal situation being what it is, he may not be lacing up the gloves for awhile…and his next opponents might be wearing suits, ties and robes. If that be the case, Barrera should use his time to contemplate whether ego and financial gain should trump common sense.
