By Ronnie Nathanielsz
GIANT Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN dreams of staging the much-awaited rematch between Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and reigning super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in Manila sometime next year.
Of course, the plans will depend on the outcome of Barrera’s rematch with Rocky Juarez on Sept. 18 and Pacquiao’s rubber match with legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 18.
ABS-CBN vice president for sports Peter Musngi said it was a dream, but that he didn’t see any reason why it couldn’t be done with the support of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, the outfit that partnered the network in staging the successful Mano-A-Mano showdown between Pacquiao and Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum last July 2.
Musngi said he was confident that Barrera would be willing to come to Manila, saying he was a decent and proud fighter and if the money was right, would agree to battle the Filipino in his hometown.
The added advantage is that Barrera is handled by Golden Boy Promotions of the great Oscar de la Hoya, whose outfit has a promotional agreement with the famed Ala Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, his son Michael, who has taken over the management of the boxing business and well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
Since Golden Boy Promotions have developed close ties with the Ala Gym and presently handle emerging ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Z “The Dream” Gorres, their ties with the Philippines have been strengthened and agreeing to have Barrera fight Pacquiao in Manila wasn’t far-fetched since top executive Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions witnessed how well Larios was treated and saw the colorful and efficient handling of the fight itself.
