Hollywood, CA — During a press conference for their March 17 HBO pay per view, “Fearless”, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez had a Filipino elephant in the room at the House of Blues by the name of Manny Pacquiao.
While herds of reporters asked question after question to Barrera and Marquez about their upcoming bout, not a peep was mentioned about the Filipino both men have campaigned for rematches with…Manny “The Destroyer” Pacquiao.
When I got my minutes with both Barrera and Marquez, I made it a point to mention the Filipino superstar.
On November 15, 2003, Marco Antonio Barrera was handed his most humiliating defeat at the hands of Manny. The Mexico City star was dominated by the younger, stronger, and more active Pinoy and eventually Barrera lost via 11th round technical knockout.
The loss was so decisive, that Rudy Perez, Barrera’s long time trainer, was recommended his fighter retire, per a Los Angeles Times report the following day. Of course, Barrera returned and continued his storied career, searching for a rematch with Pacquiao.
With Manny recently announcing his allegiance to Top Rank and turning his back to Golden Boy Promotions, Barrera and Marquez’s promoter, a legal and political battle has gained heat between the promotional rivals.
Though Barrera v. Pacquiao was marked to go to purse bid in early 2007, for Barrera’s WBC super featherweight championship, WBC President Jose Sulaiman cancelled the bid, waiting for the promotional rights of Pacquiao to be decided by a Los Angeles, California court.
The long winded drama led Barrera to Marquez.
Months after Pacquiao destroyed Barrera, Manny was able to put Juan Manuel on the canvas three times in the first round. Following the memorable first round, Marquez fought Pacquiao to a questionable, but classic twelve round draw.
Since then, Marquez has fought non-distinct foes and even lost a fight to Chris John in his search for Manny Pacquiao.
Though it seems as if promotional ties would keep both Marquez and Barrera from a fight with Pacquiao. Oscar De La Hoya, head of Golden Boy, informed Boxing Confidential today that he would work for a bout with Pacquiao if either man wanted it, even if he lost the legal battle for Pacquiao, stating that he is here to work for his fighters.
Barrera seems to have mentally moved on from a rematch with the Pinoy.
“I am past that fight, I wanted it, but if it does not happen, it does not happen. I am looking to retire in 2007,” said Barrera.
As for Juan Manuel, he cannot let the draw against Pacquiao go.
“It is like a small thorn in a lion’s paw,” said Marquez, “I want to remove that thorn, of drawing with Pacquiao, from my paw.”
On Pacquiao’s part, his next fight is no gimme’, as he travel to Steve Wynn’s gambling haven in Macau, China to do battle with the rough and dangerous In Jin Chi.
While all three men’s futures are unclear, let’s hope that Manny Pacquiao renews his feud with either Mexican, before all three ride off into boxing sunset.
