By James Blears
WBC and IBF Super Featherweight Champ Marco Antonio Barrera wants seven more fights before finally hanging up his gloves, and one of them will definitely be a re-match against his Filipino nemesis magnificent Manny Pacquiao.
Marco confirmed this at his Mexico City Gym, before heading for Los Angeles to meet with Oscar de La Hoya to discuss upcoming fights. Ever the out of ring taciturn diplomat, Marco remained politely coy about the upcoming March 25th fight against IBF Lightweight Champion Jesus Chavez, preferring the Golden Boy himself to make the official announcement. He also mentioned the names of Injin Chi and Scott Harrison and Jorge Barrios, who will be defending his WBO Super Featherweight crown against number one contender Janos Nagy on the same bill.
With this latest audacious initiative, Marco is reaching for Mexican ring immortality. Neither the great Julio Cesar Chavez, nor Erik Morales have managed to reach the magical number of four world titles in different categories.
Marco prudently insisted: “Firstly I’m concentrating on March 25th. But after that I’ll calmly be contemplating a re-match against Manny.”
Manny dished out an eleventh round TKO hiding to Marco back in November 2003 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It ranks and rankles as by far the most embarrassing of Marco’s four defeats.
To this day Marco refuses to make excuses for this loss, although he had to contend with revelations about minor brain surgery, managerial problems, an attempted kidnapping in his Mexico City Gym, and brush fires which prematurely swept him out of his Big Bear Training Camp in California. It most certainly took the edge off his concentration. He jokes that the fight taught him to duck a lot more, due to the high volume of leather which landed on himself.
Marco’s analysis of Erik’s ten round mauling at the hands of Manny was succinct. He observed: “There was a lack of a fight plan by Erik, and he missed his Father being in his corner. Who knows what happened between fight one and fight two between them. In the first fight out of twelve rounds Erik won fifteen. He beat Manny to the punch. But with several losses (three in the last four) and a lack of strategy, who knows? Only him.
“I think it was the hunger for triumph factor, which Erik Morales lacked. It was a hunger and desire to reverse the first fight which possessed Manny Pacquiao, and which he demonstrated.”
Marco mused on Erik’s battle with the scales in the super featherweight division, commenting that once he moved up from Super Bantam to Featherweight, his knockout record completely dried up. “He couldn’t have even knock out his brother.” (Diego “Pelucho” Morales who’s a former WBO Super Flyweight and is now a featherweight). He’s very slim, but when he fights he tends to put on a lot of weight and that causes him problems.
“He’s lost three of his last four fights, and in this last one he was hit as he’s never been hit before. In my case I took a rest and revitalized myself and reflected on what went wrong to rectify things.
“I don’t think it’s the end for Erik. He should come back, win and then call it a day.”
Manny Pacquiao has established himself as the scourge, whipping the cream of Mexico’s elite in the little big men divisions. He’s knocked down Juan Manuel Marquez thrice, decked Marco Antonio Barrera once and canvassed Erik Morales twice.
With a wry smile the stubble chinned Baby Faced Assassin, who’s long outgrown and palpably outlived his nickname, praised Manny Pacquiao saying:
“He’s an exceptionally strong fighter who throws a lot of punches, and he’s very good. He’s demonstrated this by clobbering the best Mexicans there are. And I’m looking for a second fight with him, which I want this year. And I’ll train one hundred percent plus to show what I can do.”
Marco who was sporting a severe crew cut with wispy Star Trek type sideburns, looked a trifle on the fleshy side. He shadow boxed, worked the heavy bag, and hit a big pad held for him by his long time Chief Trainer Rudy Perez. It was a case of all in the family, because older brother Jorge, a former pro fighter was also working out. And their Mother Rosa and Father Jorge Sr were also ringside.
With an average of two fights per annum, Marco would need at least three years to achieve his vaunted ambition of seven more fights to add to his 61 bout tally. By that time, he’d be pushing the wrong side of thirty five years old. It seems like a tall order, but with his record who could count him out?
