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Pacquiao Keeps Title, But Does Barrera Laugh Last?
MON October 8, BUSTER PARIS - Larry Merchant: “Do you feel disappointed in this, your last fight?”
Marco Antonio Barrera: “I’m sad because I lost in the end …”
Saturday – October 6th, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - Marco Antonio Barrera (W 63 - KO 42 & L 6) closed out an amazing 18-year career that has given us some of the greatest fights we’ve ever seen.
His opponent was current super featherweight champ (130 lbs), and super star - Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (W 45 - KO 35, L 3 & D 2) and this was either going to be Barrera’s long awaited and brutal revenge for his 2003 loss against Pac Man, or this was going to be a repeat of Manny swarming all over Marco, but this time sending him into that final goodnight – retirement.
Leading in to October, all the chatter about a wildly distracted Pacquiao had us wondering how well he’d do come October 6th. Things like the gambling, the cutting a music album, shooting pool, running for political office, the acting gig, the late start in training, and playing reindeer games with trainer Freddy Roach - like having Freddy come to the Philippians instead of Manny being in the US at the Wild Card Gym. All of this added to questioning Manny’s focus, and doubting his chances of victory.
On the other side, Barrera was nothing but focused. Training hard and looking good. No distractions like back in 2003 – you know – no worries about his training camp burning down, no problems with the metal plate in his head – little things like that.
Barrera was in warrior mode with one thought, one goal, and one spirit in his heart and mind. One of the most motivating and powerful forces that drive us from deep within:
Vengeance.
In ‘The Merchant of Venice’ Shakespeare all but mentions hand wraps and Cleto Reyes gloves in this quote:
“If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.”
THAT is what was driving Marco Antonio Barrera, and Manny Pacquiao was playing loyalty games with Roach, and cutting a rap single… Ding Ding Ding
The fight itself was extremely disappointing. We expected Chaos vs. Vengeance and got a very technical and passionless boxing match.
Barrera fought with incredible technical proficiency, great head, hand and upper body movement. Fantastic use of footwork and angle cutting, but he was extremely tentative and far too cautious. Not at all offensive minded, and he would never fully allow his hands to go. He also seemed, at times, to be fighting merely for the sake of surviving.
For Pacquiao he didn’t seem like himself either. Even though he was the aggressor the entire night, he was often flatfooted and wasn’t throwing as much, granted Marco didn’t present an easy target to hit, but Manny wasn’t as active, seemed a tad apprehensive, and at times actually appeared bored.
To be fair, there were some exciting clashes here or there, and the leather flew with beautiful violent energy and intent, and just as it was about to become a fight the moment would pass.
In the end it was a disappointing fight. The judges all had it unanimously for Pacquiao - Judge Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge had it 118-109 and Judge Tom Schreck had it at 115-112.
In the aftermath of this we’re left with some questions regarding Manny – how much longer until his fierce lifestyle catches up with his boxing? He’s 28 now, but 30 ain’t that far off, especially for a fighter like Pacquiao.
And, perhaps Barrera has had his revenge - if you look closely at this fight, maybe we see the beginnings of a blue print on how to beat Pac Man. Marco Antonio's defense and angles were incredibly effective at keeping Manny from swarming and flurrying, and all one would need to do is add a strong offense, and perhaps that's the recipe to dethrone Pacquiao.
Lastly, this is goodbye to Marco Antonio Barrera the fighter. What an amazing career it’s been. We all have our favorite Barrera bouts, and you can’t think of boxing and not think about the Barrera and Erik Morales ferocious trilogy.
I’d have to say that my favorite Marco Antonio fight was his unbelievable, out of nowhere astonishing victory against “Prince” Naseem Hamed, where he did what people thought was impossible, what no other man was able to do – beat the Prince, and he beat him soundly, viciously and methodically – like a true Mexican Warrior.
That’s how I’ll remember Barrera.
Larry Merchant asked: “Do you feel disappointed in this, your last fight?”
Marco Antonio Barrera answered: “I’m sad because I lost in the end …”
You lost this bout, sure – but you didn’t lose in the end. You’ll always be a hero and a legend. Thanks for all the great fights, Marco - and from all of us here at TalkingBoxing.com --- vaya con dios!
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
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