LAS VEGAS – Oscar de la Hoya and the Golden Boy gang praised Marco Antonio Barrera to high heavens for his “courageous” fight against Manny Pacquiao here Saturday night. It was an undeserved tribute.
If Barrera planned to go out in a blaze of glory, he certainly didn’t get the job done.
After the one-sided bout, Barrera showed up to meet the press in the media center next to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. He made it crystal clear there will be no comeback – much to the relief of his audience.
Barrera thanked his family, sparmates, Golden Boy and Dr. Ignacio Madrazo who in 1997, inserted tiny protective implants and removed abnormal blood vessels in his brain. The surgery nearly ended Barrera’s boxing career prematurely but tests showed there was no danger of brain damage if he continued to fight.
Barrera applauded Pacquiao and offered no excuses for losing. He said he lost to the best.
But there was a tinge of dislike for Pacquiao in Barrera’s tone when he introduced Venezuelan Edwin Valero to the media. He said what he once was, Valero is or will be. Barrera predicted a Valero victory over Pacquiao in case they meet. That had no place in a forum where Barrera and Pacquiao were supposed to declare their mutual respect for each other.
Worse, Barrera boasted that in the rematch, Pacquiao never hurt him. He admitted he felt Pacquiao’s power in their 2003 meeting where he was stopped in the 11th round. Not this time, however. Barrera insisted he wasn’t bothered by Pacquiao’s punches despite suffering a deep gash under his right eye and nearly falling in the 11th round. Whom was Barrera fooling?
It was no way for a legendary thee-time world champion to retire. Barrera showed no class in belittling Pacquiao’s power and even heralding Valero as his future conqueror.
During the fight, Barrera had little to be proud of. He backtracked to survive and kept a safe distance away, preferring to counter-punch instead of initiating. He engaged Pacquiao only sporadically, more to appease his fans than to make a serious effort in going toe-to-toe.
Barrera retired with a whimper and a bundle of cash. He didn’t go down fighting. He went down surviving. He obviously knew there was no way he could beat Pacquiao. All he wanted was one last big paycheck and Pacquiao was his ticket to the bank. For that, he should’ve thanked Pacquiao profusely and not thrown some left-handed compliments in the wake of it all.
No wonder Barrera’s archrival Erik Morales has no respect for the Baby-Faced Assassin. Barrera speaks with forked tongue.
As for Pacquiao, he was a gentleman through and through. He admitted that Barrera hurt him and called him a great champion. When asked if he was prepared for a “dirty” fight, Pacquiao said yes but never put Barrera in a bad light. He was careful not to disrespect the loser.
Over 10,000 fans jammed the Events Center, anticipating a war. They were disappointed because only one protagonist showed up to fight. The other showed up to survive.
With so much hype surrounding the rematch, the outcome was a letdown. Don’t blame Pacquiao. He tried, round after round, to give the fans their money’s worth, chasing Barrera down and dictating the tempo of the action. But the Mexican just wouldn’t stand his ground.
It was evident that Barrera couldn’t hurt Pacquiao. He could never bring up the power he had as a superbantamweight to the superfeatherweight division. And the age factor went clearly against the Mexican who is five years older and turned pro in 1989 when Pacquiao was only 10. Pacquiao was so much fresher at the final bell despite struggling to make the 130-pound limit.
In the final analysis, heart made the big difference. Barrera took the easy way out to pasture while Pacquiao once more gave honor to his country by fighting like a true patriot.
Shame on Barrera for a swan song not worthy of a future Hall of Famer.