by Bob Canobbio
Unlike Erik Morales, who went out on his shield in his two knockout losses to Manny Pacquiao last year, Marco Antonio Barrera, in the 70th and last fight of his Hall of Fame career, instead played it safe, losing a one-sided unanimous decision.
Seldom willing to exchange, Barrera landed just 120 total punches all night, only 81 of which were power shots- none having any effect on Pacquiao, who landed 256 of 694 total punches (37%), including 176 of 325 (54%) power shots. Barrera got off 578 total punches, an average of 48 thrown per round.
Barrera, a 2 ½-1 underdog (and a 4-1 favorite in their first fight), managed to slow the pace of the fight, (Pac averaged just 58 total punches thrown per round), however, he wasn’t busy enough to win rounds. Pacquiao, who averaged 76 total punches thrown in their first fight and landed 30 or more total punches in six of the eleven rounds fought, was content to outbox Barrera this time, throwing 101 more jabs and landing 28 more than in their first fight.
Pacquiao landed over 30 total punches in just two rounds of the rematch, as Barrera landed an average of just three jabs per round and seven power punches over twelve rounds. Barrera actually landed 52 more total punches in the first fight. So much for leaving it all in the ring in his final fight.
Barrera concludes his nearly 18 year career with a 63-6 record. He won five titles in three different weight classes and is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer.
As for Pacquiao, he has unfinished business with Juan Manuel Marquez, whom he drew with in May of ’04. There’s also talk of a move up to lightweight to challenge David Diaz, one of three fighters named Diaz to hold a lightweight title. Juan and Julio duke it out October 13 in a unification fight which will provide another Diaz for Pacquiao to challenge down the road.
