Manny off for Barrera country

Countdown to showdown.

Manny Pacquiao arrives in San Antonio today (Tuesday morning in Manila), his body ready to take all the punches from Marco Antonio Barrera, his fists raring to hit their target and his mind all set for the big fight many believe will define his boxing career.

Six days into the blockbuster event set at the Alamodome in Texas, Pacquiao is oozing with confidence, raring to face Barrera before an expected huge Mexican crowd.

"He’s in tip-top shape," according to Justin Fortune, the Australian former Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation heavyweight champion tapped to handle Pacquiao’s conditioning upon his arrival from Manila to the US in late-September.

"In fact, Pacquiao could even go for ‘15 rounds’ against Barrera," added Fortune, who aside from taking care of Pacquiao’s stamina-building regimen, also supervised the Filipino champ’s aerobic exercises.

But two days before the big night at the Alamodome, Fortune said Pacquiao, whose powerful punches make him a dangerous foe for the Mexican champion, will taper off and just engage in light exercises until the day of the fight.

Before he left Los Angeles, Pacquiao sparred a total of four rounds, including two against chief sparring partner Israel Vasquez Sunday at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

On Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), Pacquiao will hold his public-press preview. The following day, Pacquiao and Barrera will face the press with promoter Oscar dela Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions, is staging the card dubbed "Clash of the Titans."

For his skills, experience and size, the 29-year-old Barrera remains the heavy favorite to win their 12-round non-title fight but Pacquiao, 24, has the quickness, youth and vigor and is hungrier for recognition.

Barrera, widely regarded as the top featherweight in boxing today, has compiled a 57-3 record, highlighted by 40 knockouts in his storied 14-year career. Among the fighters he has defeated are world champions Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia, Naseem Hamed, Jesus Salud and Kennedy McKinney. In his last bout on April 12, he stopped another world champ, Kevin Kelley, in four rounds.

Pacquiao comes into The Alamo with a 37-2-1 record, including 29 knockouts. The reigning IBF super bantamweight champion roared on the world scene in June 2001 when he destroyed highly-regarded Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in six rounds to win the title, which he has defended four times. In his most recent bout, on July 26, the power-punching Pacquiao dispatched Mexican contender Emmanuel Lucero in just three rounds.