Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales are never on the same page.
Weeks after Barrera chose Juan Manuel Marquez to prevail over Manny Pacquiao in their March 15 rematch in Las Vegas, Morales came out with a statement saying he’s for the Filipino slugger.
“I believe that Pacquiao is going to win,” Morales, winner of world titles in three different divisions, said in a recent article that came out of Los Angeles-based Mexican paper Esto.
“It is going to be a good fight. The public will see great fight. But in the end I consider Pacquiao coming out ahead by any route,” he added, meaning Pacquiao could win by KO or decision.
Morales knows Pacquiao too, well. They fought three times inside two years, and formed one of the greatest trilogies of all time. But the Mexican came out losing twice by knockout.
“I think Pacquiao has more resources and speed to take him to victory. Marquez is going to give a good fight, but Pacquiao has everything to overcome them,” said Morales.
A few weeks ago, Barrera came out with a statement saying he expects Marquez to beat Pacquiao in the much-awaited rematch of the controversial draw in 2004.
“Definitely I am with Marquez,” said Barrera, who lost twice to Pacquiao, by knockout in 2003 in San Antonio, Texas, and by decision last October in Las Vegas.
“I believe that he (Marquez) is going to win. I do not say this because we are both Mexicans. I say it because boxing wise I believe that this is going to be,” added Barrera.
Like Morales, Barrera sees a great fight.
“We are going to see a great fight. But I think Juan Manuel has the necessary arms to become the winner. Marquez is fast and intelligent. I saw the first fight that that finished in a tie,” he said.
“If Manny arrives with sufficient preparation, t will change. If everything is normal, the Filipino will win.”
Barrera and Morales also fought three times, with the former getting the better end of the classic rivalry.
But ever since, the two Mexicans have always been on opposing sides.
In contrast, Pacquiao and Morales have become friends, good ones in fact, and have even starred in a San Miguel Beer commercial.
Morales has visited the Philippines twice last year, and has been treated so well in each visit. Once he sat down with Pacquiao and over bottles of beer they had fun until the wee hours of the morning.