By Rick Reeno
We waited four long years to get Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KOs) and Marco Antonio Barrera (63-5, 42 KOs) to stage a rematch of their 2003 encounter. Later tonight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the two rivals will collide for the second time.
When the two fought in 2003, Pacquiao unleashed a one-sided beating that made him an instant star. People should never count Barrera out. After rewatching the eleven rounds of damage that Pacquiao gave Barerra in 03, it's amazing to see Barrera still around as one of the top stars in the sport. Everyone thought Barrera was finished when he stopped by Manny.
Then again, many thought Barrera was finished in 1996 when he was beaten twice by Junior Jones.
"Fighting Barrera is a career highlight for me," said Pacquiao. "He has already beaten great world champions like Erik Morales, Naseem Hamed and Johnny Tapia. I am fully prepared to sacrifice and do everything necessary to beat him. And I will. It's going to be another exciting night for fight fans."
Since the 03 loss, he retired Paulie Ayala, beat Erik Morales in a trilogy bout that won the Fight of The Year honors, blew away Mzonke Fana in two (Fana is now a decent champ and it's still his only KO loss), easily beat Robbie Peden to unify two titles, won two decisions over Rocky Juarez and lost a close fight to Juan Manuel Marquez in March.
Personally I scored the fight for Barrera, but it was very close and I can't argue with Marquez getting the nod.
Since the 03 win, Pacquiao has fought a who's who of Mexican fighters. The infamous draw with Marquez, the blowout of 3K Battery, the stoppage of Hector Velazquez (his only KO loss), winning two of three bouts with Erik Morales (both by KO, Morales' only KO losses), a decision over Oscar Larios, and knocking out the previously unbeaten Jorge Solis in April.
Both fight have come a long way. The big difference is the age and the amount of damage each fighter has taken over the years. Barerra began his career in 1989 (weighing 111-Pounds), while Pacquiao entered the ring for the first time in 1995 (weighing 106-pounds). Considering how small they both started, it's remarkable to seem them both fighting today at 130-pounds. Both have also considered big fights at the lighweight limit of 135.
Tomorrow is do or die for Barrera. He plans to retire after the fight with Pacquiao, regardless of the outcome.
"Pacquiao and I have one thing in common and that is this is the fight we have most wanted," said Barrera. "But Pacquiao should have been more careful for what he wished for because he is going to be in the fight of his life. The battle is on and I am going to leave the ring as boxing's new No. 1 pound for pound fighter."
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