By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera has challenged Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao to a rematch and has offered to put his 130 pound title on the line.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman sent Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today a copy of Barrera’s offer which was transmitted to Pacquiao, the head of his management team Shelly Finkel, the WBC Board of Governors, the Philippine Games and Amusements Board headed by chairman Eric Buhain and promoter Gary Shaw even though Shaw's two-fight contract with Pacquiao had run out.
Sulaiman’s email addressed to Pacquiao said “ dear champion and friends, the WBC super featherweight champion of the world Marco Antonio Barrera has contacted the WBC to let us know that he is ready and willing to make his WBC mandatory defense against Manny Pacquiao.”
Sulaiman added “it is absolutely necessary that you inform us within the seven days as requested before if you accept the official challenger position and if you are ready to fight Marco Antonio Barrera for the WBC super featherweight championship of the world. Please accept my respectful regards.”
Pacquiao who is currently ranked No.1 after his demolition of Erik "El Terrible" Morales in their rematch last January, annihilated Barrera in their first encounter as featherweights, forcing the legendary Mexican’s brother to step into the ring and call a halt in the eleventh round. Pacquiao battered the hapless Barrera and dropped him twice with wicked combinations en route to an eleventh round TKO before a stunned pro-Barrera crowd at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas on November 16, 2003.
Barrera later claimed he had many distractions including forest fires near his Big Bear training camp in Los Angeles that interrupted his preparation. He also charged that the demands for an examination following revelations that he had a metal plate implanted after brain surgery years before had upset him mentally.
Since then Barrera had indicated there was no need for him to fight Pacquiao but appears to have changed his mind after his lightweight title bout with Jesus Chavez was postponed because of an injury suffered by Chavez.
Since his loss to Pacquiao, Barrera scored impressive wins over former bantamweight champion Paulie Ayala, a close victory over arch rival Erik “El Terrible” Morales in their third ring war, a devastating second round knockout over the over-matched Mzonke Fana of South Africa and a comfortable twelve round decision over Australian Robbie Peden last September 17. Barrera has a record of 61-4 with 42 knockouts.
The possibility of the Pacquiao-Barrera fight taking place appeared stronger after HBO reportedly decided not to come to Manila following recent political instability and President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency which was lifted over the weekend. Pacquiao’s opponent in the tune-up fight originally set for May 20 but later postponed for late June or early July, former super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios also pulled out saying he planned on fighting champion Israel Vasquez instead.
