Barrera expected at ringside

SAN ANTONIO – Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said yesterday former WBC superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera will likely be at ringside for Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Jorge Solis at the Alamodome here this morning (Manila time).

"My understanding is Barrera now appears to be totally free from Golden Boy," said Arum. "There is talk he wants a rematch with Manny. I don’t know if that can be worked out because nothing is clear-cut at the moment but if it’s a fight the public wants, we’ll do it. If there are hitches with Golden Boy, maybe this could be an item in the settlement terms."

Even as Arum spoke of the possibility of a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch, WBC president Jose Sulaiman said he was told the Baby-faced Assassin has announced his retirement from the ring in Mexico.

"His family has been putting pressure on him to retire," said Sulaiman. "But you’ll never know about boxing. Barrera mentioned he’d like to go out holding a title, even if it’s a minor title. If Manny’s available for a rematch, I’m sure he’ll consider it."

Sulaiman wasn’t aware of Barrera’s plan to be at ringside in the venue where Pacquiao stopped him in the 11th round four years ago.

Arum said he anticipates a competitive fight between Pacquiao and Solis. "It could go the distance although I see Manny finishing him off in nine or 10 rounds," said Arum. "Manny has to put pressure on Solis from the start. Manny will just outwork Solis with his energy and stamina. He’ll wear him down."

Arum said initial reports of pay-per-view buys indicate surpassing the subscriptions for the recent Juan Manuel Marquez-Barrera fight. He said ticket sales should reach $1.5 million and will eclipse the gross in the Oscar de la Hoya-David Kamau fight in 1997 and the Pacquiao-Barrera brawl.

The pay-per-view estimate is in the range of 200,000 to 300,000. Arum said a card featuring Pacquiao, Jorge Arce and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. is a sure winner.

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Pacquiao will enter the ring with the public address system playing a song he recorded hours before he left Manila to start training in Los Angeles last month. The song is entitled "Lalaban Ako," composed and produced by jingle genius Lito Camo and arranged by Jun Tamayo.

It took Camo only 1 1/2 hours to write the song. He recorded it and sent a CD to Pacquiao to study.

After a meeting in Malacañang, Pacquiao went to the Asiatec Pinknoise studio near Tomas Morato to record the song. He began recording at 7 p.m. and completed three versions. Then, he motored to the airport to catch the 10 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles.

"I was inspired by Manny to write the song," said Camo who flew in to witness the Alamodome fight. "It has a double meaning because it’s about boxing and his fight to serve his province. He once confided to me about how he feels when some people put him down, insisting he’s not fit for public office because he lacks education. He’s just a simple man with a sincere purpose. Why can’t a simple man be given a chance to serve? If he can unite our people through boxing, I think he can unite our people through politics."

Camo said "Lalaban Ako" has a beat similar to Pacquiao’s hit "Para Sa ‘Yo Ang Laban Na ‘To."

"You’ll be surprised to hear Manny sing," said Camo. "He’s a real pro. You don’t even notice his Visayan accent. He sang with three backup singers and I was even one of them."

The refrain of the song goes like this:

"Lalaban ako sa mundo/Dala ang pangalan mo/Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo/Lalaban ako sa mundo/Kapalit may buhay ko/Lalaban ako para sa Pilipino."

Geneva Cruz will sing the national anthem before the fight.

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Superlightweight prospect David Rodela, 24, was Pacquiao’s chief sparmate in training for the third Erik Morales fight and the Solis bout. The Oxnard, California, fighter has a 6-1 record, with 4 KOs, and according to Pacquiao’s trainer Buboy Fernandez, he could be a future world champion.

"I’m impressed with Rodela," said Fernandez. "He went toe-to-toe with Manny and took Manny’s hardest shots. He never backed off. He sparred about 50 rounds with Manny for Morales and another 50 for Solis."

Rodela said Pacquiao is quicker, stronger and smarter now than ever before.

"He’s improving each day in the gym," said Rodela. "He’s unbelievable. Everyone knows how strong and quick he is but what is even more impressive is his defense. He uses good footwork to spin away from his opponent. You can’t hit him because he’s so fast. And I noticed he’s using his right hand a lot more than before."