Barrera eyes twist of fate as motivation to get even with Pacquiao

Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera hopes that the reversal of fortune will work on his favor in his bid to get even with his Filipino tormentor Manny Pacquiao in their highly-anticipated return bout billed as “Will to Win!” on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

During their first encounter, Pacquiao was the heavy underdog but went on to score one of the most shocking upsets in boxing history when he scored a brutal 11th round destruction of Barrera before a dumbfounded pro-Mexican crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on that fateful November 16, 2003. The emphatic win became Pacman’s launching pad to phenomenal stardom.

Now that he’s the underdog going up against the star, Barrera is poised to make the twist of fate as his driving force in seeking payback against Pacquiao.

“This time it’s different because Pacquiao is the star and he’s at the top and it’s me who’s coming up. That’s the motivation that will make me victorious on Oct. 6,” said Barrera in a press conference yesterday at  Beverly Hills in California formally announcing their upcoming rematch that will broadcast by HBO on Pay-Per-View basis.

With due respect to the “Baby-Faced Assasin”, Pacquiao declined to comment on whether he would be able to repeat his mastery over Barrera saying that what is important is that he should prepare hard because that is all what it takes to win a fight.

“This is a tough fight. Barrera is always tough and is always prepared. I will be one hundred percent for the rematch because that’s what it’s going to take to win,” said Pacquiao.

The event also marked the reunion of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar de la Hoya since they decided to bury their legal hatchets and agreed to work together for the good of their boxers and for the betterment of the boxing industry. — EBV