Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao smashed Marco Antonio “Baby Face Assassin” Barrera in the last of their scheduled 12-round super featherweight fight past noon (Manila time) today at the Mandala Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
“Will to Win II” was their second battle after their first encounter in 2003 when Pacman claimed the Baby Face Assassin’s featherweight title.
Prior to their fight today, Pacquiao’s record was 44-3-2, 35 KOs while Barrera held a 63-5, 42 KOs record.
The fight, dubbed “Will to Win II”, was a fight everybody was waiting for, not much for the Pinoy “People’s Champion”’s WBC International super-featherweight crown, but for vengeance the Mexican was eyeing.
The 33-year-old Barrera said this would be his last big fight, win, lose or draw. He faced tallest odds to avenge a bitter 11th round knockout loss to Pacquiao in Texas on Nov. 15, 2003.
On the eve of the fight, 28-year-old Pacquiao was at -360 (you need $360 to win $100) while Barrera was at +300 (a $100 bet wins $300). No major changes were seen or expected until the gates closed hours before the fight.
“It’s a fight you will remember for the rest of your lives,” said Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy during Friday’s weigh-in. He co-promoted the fight with former rival and now business partner Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Pacquiao was 144; Barrera, 138.
Pacquiao has fought against other Mexican fighters, including Erik Morales, Oscar Larios, Emanuel Lucero, Hector Velazquez and Jorge Solis.
Pacquiao was named “2006 Fighter of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring Magazine, known as the Bible of boxing.
Pacquiao won the fight by unanimous decision.