By James Blears
Looking at Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez standing side by side, it’s hard to believe the official statistic that there’s just one inch difference in their height.
As so often in boxing, these sort of details are a bit sketchy. My own estimation is that Marco is about five feet seven inches tall and Rocky is about five feet four inches tall.
It’s certainly going to be a tall order for Rocky. Marco’s been there done it won titles at three divisions and is still thirty two years old. Born on January 17th, Marco shares a birthday with Muhammad Ali, and has more than fulfilled his own promise and destiny.
Is the WBC Super Featherweight belt within Rocky reach? If the official stats are to be believed at least in part, Marco has the scope of 70 inches, and Rocky has just 67 inches- paradoxically the same as his more illustrious namesake Mr. Marciano.
Rocky who has an Olympic pedigree, and was robbed of a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics, only has one blemish in a relatively brief, but mega pro career. Last August he was supposed to be fighting Korea’s Injin Chi for the WBC Featherweight Title. That was until Chi got injured, and in stepped tall and awkward Humberto Soto, who won a unanimous decision off the deflated Rocky.
Paradoxically we’re now in a fairly similar situation. Marco was supposed to be fighting Jesus Chavez for the lightweight title, until the Matador got himself injured, and now he’s facing Rocky.
Many pundits are saying that Marco will win it on experience. He’s had 61 fights and Rocky’s only just getting started with 25.
But like a double edged sword, that can cut both ways, Marco’s been boxing since he was a tender fifteen year old, and he’s been through some incredible wars. When that happens, even to a great fighter, he leaves a little of himself behind, having to use up portions of factor X, which blends and marinates greatness.
Marco has provided himself with greater ring longevity by adapting to a boxer puncher, from an all out action packed slugger. He’s shown us he can box off the back foot, counter and craft his way to victory.
What worries me, is that he’s not followed his tried and tested formula of going up to the dizzy heights of Big Bear, for altitude training. He really needed this to give him some high octane energy levels against a younger and fresher fighter, who’s got more zip and elastic in his legs.
Erik Morales made this crucial tactical preparation blunder in the build up to his second fight with Manny Pacquiao, and boy did he pay for it!
Rocky is not just hungry, he’s ravenous. He knows the magnitude of the task ahead of him at the Staples Center on Saturday, and he knows that failure is not an option.
Marco’s a wise old pro, but he’s already accumulated wealth and security through shrewd real estate investment, and his ring appetite isn’t as keen as it once was.
Rocky’s plan must be to get in close, swarm Marco and unload that huge left hook, which has dispatched eighteen of his 25 opponents, although admittedly none have been in the same street class wise, as Marco.
Marco, who has a significant reach advantage, must try to keep it at distance and give the youngster a sound boxing lesson.
But without absolutely top physical condition, this won’t be possible for the whole fight. That’s when we could see a major shock and an enormous upset.
Marco’s already achieved so much in boxing, and is capitalizing on his hard deservedly won marketability. The trick is to get out in time, before time catches up with you.
I don’t think Marco is physically big enough to win a title at a fourth weight. I also think this particular fight, which is more within his frame zone is far more dangerous in reality than on paper.
Knowing Marco and his marvelous family as well as I do, my heart is definitely hoping he’ll win.
I’ve just got a sneaking and uneasy feeling that he’s hung around just that bit too long and the younger lion is risking all including a clinical mauling, to defeat him and reach the top of the food chain.
