Barrera-Marquez a done deal

Forget the much-talked rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera to happen. At least, for now.

This after Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Shaeffer confirmed to boxingtalk.com yesterday that the Barrera-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown is already a done deal and will take place as originally scheduled on March 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Schaefer's move came after Pacquiao ignored Golden Boy's ultimatum to accept its offer for a fight against Barrera, the reigning WBC super featherweight champion.

Pacquiao asserted his allegiance to Top Rank Inc. of Bob Arum, whom he entrusted to promote his future fights for a period of four years.

Arum isn't unperturbed by Golden Boy's move, saying that they are going to announce in the next few days Pacquiao's opponent in an April 28 bout at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Macau.

"Good," Arum told boxingconfidential.com after learning of Schaefer's announcement that Barrera would not try to slug it out with Pacquiao next but would take on Marquez instead.

"If that is the case, then that is the case. Now we will see who Manny chooses from the list of nine, very viable opponents that we gave him. It's all up to Manny now because he will then fight in April in Macau at Steve Wynn's hotel-casino."

Those who are in the masterlist of Pacquiao's probable foes include WBC No.1 super featherweight contender Humberto Sotto of Mexico, reigning OPBF champion Nobuhito Honmo of Japan, IBF super featherweight champion Malcolm Klassen of South Africa and Guadalupe Rosales of Mexico.

In the same report by boxingconfidential.com, Arum thinks Barrera's selection may hasten the end of the Mexican legend's career.

"Barrera will lose and he will make less money than he would've made against Manny," Arum said. "No doubt, Marquez will beat Barrera. Is that a PPV fight? I don't think so, certainly not as a standalone fight. It's just not a PPV, special event type PPV fight by itself."

As of the moment, Arum said he will just wait for Pacman's pick as his next foe.

After Pacquiao picked Top Rank over Golden Boy as his promoter, Arum offered Barrera a US$2.5 million purse plus a substantial share in Pay-Per-View revenues for a return bout with Pacquiao on April 28 in Macau.

But Golden Boy rejected Arum's proposal and instead tendered their own overture for a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch on March 17.

Golden Boy executives led by boxing great Oscar de la Hoya claimed they are the rightful promoter of Pacquiao after the General Santos City warrior signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy in late September.

Arum, however, surprised everyone after the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy last November 18 by announcing that Pacman has inked a four-year deal with Top Rank.

That paved the way to a legal war between the rival promotional outfits that is now pending in US courts.