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by David P. Greisman - The final bell tolled before the opening bell rang. Before Marco Antonio Barrera stepped into the ring for his rematch with Manny Pacquiao, he said he would retire after what had been a long and legendary career. But revenge would have to come first.
Twelve rounds passed. Another final bell tolled. And there was Barrera, lifted upon the shoulders of his cornerman, a trickle of crimson flowing from a cut on his cheek.
It would be his only taste of blood that night.
Few could blame Barrera, not when his mind already knew that the end had come, that he had accomplished so much in capturing a championship at featherweight and titles at junior featherweight and junior lightweight. Not when his body had been through war and then reenlisted for more: 12 rounds with Kennedy McKinney, 36 rounds with Erik Morales, the mental and physical battles in-between that included two straight losses to Junior Jones and one stellar win over Prince Naseem Hamed.
Not when he had already had 11 rounds of Pacquiao.
Barrera was unlike so many who would reach their peaks, recognize their limits and then fade away. Barrera could adjust. He had out-boxed Robbie Peden in one fight and battled in the trenches with Rocky Juarez in the next. Juarez had punished Barrera on the inside and nearly come out with the victory, so Barrera stayed outside in their rematch and worked behind an accurate jab, effective counterpunching and exceptional footwork. [details]
Twelve rounds passed. Another final bell tolled. And there was Barrera, lifted upon the shoulders of his cornerman, a trickle of crimson flowing from a cut on his cheek.
It would be his only taste of blood that night.
Few could blame Barrera, not when his mind already knew that the end had come, that he had accomplished so much in capturing a championship at featherweight and titles at junior featherweight and junior lightweight. Not when his body had been through war and then reenlisted for more: 12 rounds with Kennedy McKinney, 36 rounds with Erik Morales, the mental and physical battles in-between that included two straight losses to Junior Jones and one stellar win over Prince Naseem Hamed.
Not when he had already had 11 rounds of Pacquiao.
Barrera was unlike so many who would reach their peaks, recognize their limits and then fade away. Barrera could adjust. He had out-boxed Robbie Peden in one fight and battled in the trenches with Rocky Juarez in the next. Juarez had punished Barrera on the inside and nearly come out with the victory, so Barrera stayed outside in their rematch and worked behind an accurate jab, effective counterpunching and exceptional footwork. [details]