Barrera gets rematch if Pacquiao triumphs

Marco Antonio Barrera isn’t taking any chances. If he loses to International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao in their scheduled 12-round bout on Home Box Office (HBO) cable TV for the "people’s" crown on Nov. 15, the Mexican is guaranteed a rematch.

Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario told The Star yesterday the rematch clause was agreed in negotiations with Barrera’s camp. The incentive for Pacquiao is his purse will be double in the return bout.

Nazario said Pacquiao’s purse will be $350,000 for the coming Barrera fight. If he wins, the purse shoots up to $700,000 in a rematch. There is no provision for a return bout if Pacquiao loses.

The $350,000 purse will be Pacquiao’s biggest paycheck ever. In stopping Emmanuel Lucero last month, he was paid $180,000 but absorbed a 30 percent tax bite of $54,000 and paid a sanction fee of $5,400 to the IBF.

While Nazario confirmed the fight is 100 percent certain, a hitch is where it will be staged. The other day, he spoke to Pacquiao’s US promoter Murad Muhammad in a long distance call to find out what’s holding up the transmittal of the fight contract. Muhammad said the delay is because negotiations for the site are ongoing. The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, was initially mentioned as the venue but Muhammad said Atlantic City, New Jersey, is now a possibility.

Pacquiao couldn’t care less where the fight will be held, declared Nazario. He’ll face Barrera anywhere–even in Mexico City if that’s where the road to fortune leads him.

Nazario said he spoke with Barrera’s representative only once — during a three-way conference call with Muhammad to iron out certain details of the bout, like the weight limit and the fight distance.

Nazario said Barrera’s representative sought a weight ceiling of 128 pounds but later agreed to 126, the featherweight limit. "Sabi ko sa kanya, Manny weighed in at 120 1/2 pounds for Lucero in his last fight," related Nazario. "If the limit is 128, it’s too big a jump for Manny. Naintindihan naman niya kaya we settled at 126. Then he asked if the fight could be for 12 rounds–kasi raw si Barrera, palaging 12 rounds ang nilalabanan at ‘people’s’ championship naman ang paglalabanan. Sabi ko, no problem. Manny’s ready to fight 10 or 12 rounds."

Nazario said Pacquiao will leave for the US shortly after his brother Bobby takes on Bart Abapo in a Philippine superfeatherweight title defense in Cebu on Sept. 20.

As for trainer Freddie Roach’s availability to prepare Pacquiao for Barrera in his Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Nazario said he’ll work out a schedule once the American returns from a trip to Germany.

Nazario said he expects a tough fight against Barrera but is confident Pacquiao will win because he’s got too much power. Barrera isn’t as hard-hitting, noted Nazario.

As for Barrera’s legal entanglements, Nazario said he was assured by Muhammad there will be no hitches in clearing the way for the November duel. Muhammad also told Nazario he would persuade IBF president Marian Muhammad to postpone Pacquiao’s mandatory title defense against Jose Luis Valbuena until after the Barrera bout.

Barrera filed a law suit against previous manager Ricardo Maldonado and US promotions outfit Forum Boxing last June to break their existing contract on the grounds of "a lack of honesty in the relationship." He declared himself a free agent then signed up to join

Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable. Forum Boxing president John Jackson went to court in an attempt to block Barrera from fighting for de la Hoya. Jackson recently said, "Everything is in the hands of my lawyers."

Nazario said Pacquiao is now in General Santos City with his family, attending to his brother’s workouts and finalizing plans for his newly organized Manny Pacquiao Foundation which will channel funds to support Filipino athletes.

In an advance copy of the Ring Magazine (Nov. 2003), Barrera was listed as the "world featherweight champion" and ranked No. 3 among the globe’s top 100 fighters, pound for pound. Pacquiao was rated No. 32, the only Filipino in the honor roll.

The Ring’s status report on Barrera said: "In view of some, was fortunate to get decision in rematch with rival Erik Morales but defended belt with flawless wins over Johnny Tapia and a completely shot Kevin Kelley. New cautious, patient style not winning new fans but impressing the old ones."

Barrera, who bankrolled over $1 Million for outpointing Tapia last year, has become more of a boxer than a slugger lately. Experts said the change in style may be cope with age–he’s 29–and wear and tear–he turned pro in 1989 and has logged 60 fights. Barrera’s record is 57-3, with 40 KOs. He has been floored by Agapito Sanchez, Kennedy McKinney and Junior Jones.