[Previous entry: "New England Chatta"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "New Featherweight Champion; Manny Pacquiao"]
11/16/2003 Archived Entry: "Pac Man Gobbles up Barrera, featherweight title"
Pac Man Gobbles up Barrera, featherweight title
By J.D. Vena
San Antonio, TX – Like most great champions, it was bound to happen to the Mexican warrior. Eventually, fighting at such a light weight class as featherweight, a division where the punches are more plentiful, that there would be a younger, hungrier kid ready to pounce on him at the right moment.
Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera, widely regarded as the featherweight champion of the world, if not the best featherweight, lost that distinction to the now, Phillipino great, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao in a one-sided fight at the Alamodome tonight. After two knockdowns and many rounds gobbled up, Pac Man was awarded a TKO victory at 2:56 of the 11th round.
Pacquiao, 125, made great use of his speed and power to not only overwhelm, the 29 year old Barrera, 126, a professional since the tender age of 14, but dominate him throughout most of the bout. In the second round, clueless referee Lawrence Cole, ruled an obvious slip as a knockdown of Pacquiao, who for the first 4 minutes of fighting threw punches sparingly, an obvious sign of respect for the great champion. But the knockdown, may have sparked Pacquiao to fight harder in a city more home to Barrera.
In the third round, a speedy left cross from the energetic southpaw, dropped Barrera to the seat of his pants for only the third time in 62 fights. Though, Barrera may have seemed to have cleared his senses by the time he had risen to his feet, Pacquiao’s confidence and punch output soared until the conclusion of the bout. He pounded the body and raked combinations off the head of the frustrated Barrera, who had no answers for Pac Man’s talents and determination.
During the 7th round, while the two were moving into the ropes, Pacquiao’s head collided with Barrera’s opening a cut on the side of Barrera’s left eye. It was yet another distraction for Barrera who had already had to worry about defending himself without that inconvenience. Barrera seemed to look for Cole to help him in his time of crisis. Cole had the ringside physician examine the cut, but the doctor considered it non-threatening. Whether one saw Barrera’s reaction as a way out or not, it was clear at that point that Barrera had seen enough of Pacquiao and his nasty left hands to the face. Barrera, though firing back on occasion seemed to concede defeat after 8 rounds of being outworked.
Early in the 11thr round, a disenchanted Barrera, fell to the canvas from an assault of punches. He rose by the count of eight but didn’t punch back enough to convince his corner that he still wanted to be deemed as the best featherweight in the world. Since Cole didn’t see this, Barrera’s corner rightfully stopped the fight.
“Tonight just wasn’t my night,” Barrera told HBO’s Larry Merchant after the fight. “I had too many distractions and it just wasn’t me in there. I feel real disappointed.”
While Barrera, now 57-4 with 4O KO’s could be facing retirement, Pac Man is now a new star on the scene with plenty of worthy and lucrative choices to chose from in the talented 126-pound range.
“I knew I could beat him,” said Pacquiao, 38-2-1 with 30 KO’s. “I didn’t think I would stop him but when I dropped him in the third round, I knew I could. I was just too fast for him.”
Replies: 8 Comments on this article
The simple truth is that Pacquiao dominated the fight. I was very impressed with his speed, power, and technichal boxing skills. Also, I was very pleased to see both fighters behaving so respectfully to one another, and I hope to see more fighters following the examples provided by these two gentleman.
Posted by Paul Clemmons @ 12/01/2003 06:31 AM EST
Hey TKO, chill man! I know it may be hard for you to accept that manny is one of the emerging P4P candidate, but you cant deny that he beat your idol in a very convincing performance. You cant deny us Filipinos (not Philippino as you spelled it) to consider him one of the best P4P. This is not about mexicans vs. pinoys, but this is about manny and marco, and of course about boxing, and between them, we already knew who's better so dont take this against us just because were Filipinos. MABUHAY KA MANNY! MABUHAY KA PINOY!
Posted by parikh2000@hotmail.com">Proud&Pinoy @ 11/23/2003 12:09 AM EST
P4P in your philippino dreams! He is really overrated cause he hasnt even proven to be consistent with Top comp.JMM and Morales will kick that little ass all day long.And if he's the countrys hero they must not have alot to offer!Power my ass Ravalo!!!!
Posted by TKO @ 11/19/2003 09:06 AM EST
Manny should now fight JMMarquez to get the belts and even more respect then go for Morales!
Posted by Kent @ 11/17/2003 03:11 AM EST
The Pacquiao-Barrera fight was truly excellent. Though there were some distractions, both fighters showed their respect for each other and for the sports. Congrats to Pac Man and our respect for Tony.
Posted by carlos from southville, philippines @ 11/16/2003 08:29 PM EST
Marco Barrera showed the heart of a true champion.But Manny Pacquiao has finally come of age.This is his defining moment.With the great Freddie Roach in his corner, I think we're in for a long reign. Congratulations, Pacman ! Our whole nation is proud of you !
Posted by jerry nisperos @ 11/17/2003 12mn ph time @ 11/16/2003 11:17 AM EST
I agree with my kababayan there!!! Manny the destroyer will now be considered as one of the best pound for pound!! And i hope he wins fighter of the year!!
Posted by powerpuff @ 11/16/2003 06:23 AM EST
I am from Manila, Philippines and I am very proud of our "Boxing Hero" Manny Pacquiao who is too much for Barrera to handle. Barrera didn't display his excellent form as a champion but I guess his career is finished with the emergence of a true boxing power man in the name of Pacquiao who is in his true form as always.Enough of the excuses Pacquiao is truly deserving.Congratulations! You really made the Filipino people very happy. More power!
Posted by NICOLO DANIEL V. RAVALO @ 11/16/2003 03:16 AM EST
