Pacquiao unfazed by odds

A Las Vegas betting line recently installed Marco Antonio Barrera a 3-1 pick to beat Manny Pacquiao in their 12-round fight for the "people’s" world featherweight boxing championship at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 15.

But Pacquiao’s manager Rod Nazario wasn’t disturbed. Neither was he surprised.

"No problem," said Nazario. "Sanay na si Manny sa underdog’s role. He’s used to upsetting the odds. He’s never been intimidated by anybody. I expect Barrera to be the favorite kasi si Manny is not as well-known in the US."

Nazario said a nephew in Los Angeles reported unofficial, underground odds naming Pacquiao a 7-5 pick. Oddsmakers appeared to be split in choosing a winner although in the internet, a $100 bet on Barrera will earn only $100 and a $100 wager on Pacquiao will rake in $325. A $100 bet on Barrera will mean a debit of $425 if he loses.

Nazario recalled that Lehlo Ledwaba was a 7 to 10-1 favorite to whip Pacquiao in their International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight title bout in Las Vegas two years ago. "Ledwaba was supposed to murder Manny," said Nazario. "We all know what happened." Ledwaba never had a chance to hurt Pacquiao who busted the South African’s nose in the first stanza enroute to wresting the crown via a sixth round stoppage.

Pacquiao, 24, arrived in the US with trainers Lito Mondejar and Buboy Fernandez last Sept. 25 and began training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood after a day’s rest. He started sparring last Friday.

Nazario said Pacquiao engaged in light sparring in Davao City before flying to the US, weighing 132 pounds. He said Pacquiao’s weight will naturally settle at 126 pounds–the featherweight limit–without resorting to a drastic reduction in food intake.

Nazario said Pacquiao realizes a win over Barrera will guarantee at least a $1 million payday. Pacquiao’s purse for the San Antonio fight is $350,000. A victory will mean a $700,000 purse in a rematch, a clause in the contract stipulated by Barrera’s camp. So Pacquiao figures to bankroll $1.05 million if he beats Barrera plus a windfall from TV rights. Nazario said Solar Sports TV agreed to pay $200,000 for the rights to Pacquiao’s next three bouts.

"Alam ni Manny na kung matalo siya ni Barrera, ang mawawala sa kanya ay about P40 million," said Nazario. "Sabi niya sa akin, Boss, hindi ako magpapatalo, kayang kaya ang kalaban."

Nazario said Barrera, 29, is ripe for the taking. "He’s on the way down and Manny’s on the way up," added Nazario who leaves Manila for the US to join Pacquiao on Oct. 20. "In Barrera’s last three fights, you saw signs of slipping. Hindi niya nasaktan si (Erik) Morales at (Johnny) Tapia. And in his last fight, ang kalaban niya na si (Kevin) Kelley, laos na. Lately, Barrera has changed his style–he’s now more of a boxer, jabbing and moving. Okay lang kay Manny ‘yun. Manny is quicker and stronger."

Nazario said beating Barrera will mean Pacquiao is destined for greatness because the Mexican is now considered the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter after Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins. If Pacquiao defeats Barrera, Nazario said he’ll be the greatest Filipino fighter who ever lived, greater than Flash Elorde.

As for fighting in San Antonio where the "Baby Faced Assassin" is expected to enjoy the hometown advantage from the huge Mexican community, Nazario said Pacquiao couldn’t care less. When he fought Emmanuel Lucero in Los Angeles last July, Nazario said the Grand Olympic Auditorium was packed by Mexican fans. "Ang crowd, mga 99 percent for Lucero," noted Nazario. "But when tinamaan ni Manny si Lucero sa third round at tumiklop ang kalaban, quiet lahat sila."

The $177 million Alamodome was built in 1993 and hosted the Julio Cesar Chavez-Pernell Whitaker duel for the World Boxing Council (WBC) superlightweight title that year. The Barrera-Pacquiao match is only the second big boxing event to be held in the San Antonio Spurs’ former basketball homecourt. The Alamodome features a retractable seating system and capacity ranges from 30,000 to 70,000.

Nazario said if Pacquiao beats Barrera, a rematch will be held assuming the Mexican still wants it. Another option is for Pacquiao to stake the IBF 122-pound crown in a mandatory defense against leading contender Jose Luis Valbuena who was once beaten by Barrera. A third option is to relinquish the IBF throne then shoot for the WBC featherweight title which is expected to be vacated by Morales.

Nazario admitted that in Pacquiao’s long list of victims, only Ledwaba was considered a serious threat. Barrera, in contrast, has faced more formidable opposition. But the wear and tear of a long career that started in 1989 has taken a heavy toll on Barrera, a veteran of 60 fights. Barrera’s reflexes are slower and he’s not as aggressive as before.

In beating Morales last year, Barrera boxed instead of slugged. "He turned into Seinfield in its final season," wrote Ted Bodenrader in Boxing 2003 magazine. "He was a tainted, less inspiring version of his prior self. He was like Stern without strippers or the Blowfish without Hootie. The sprinkle of spice was absent. Barrera was tactical and tentative in his mindset and approach. (His) feet were clearly getting more work than his fists."

The road to glory is wide open for Pacquiao and it begins with Barrera.