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Pacquiao
TALKS
are ongoing for a possible rematch between Filipino
boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican
poster boy Marco Antonio Barrera.
This was
confirmed by one of Team Pacquiao’s influential
personalities in an interview with BusinessMirror.
According to International promoter Rex Wakee Salud, Top
Rank big boss Bob Arum divulged to them ongoing
negotiations with Barrera.
“Nothing
really is concrete yet as to their plans but Bob
confirmed to me that they are indeed talking with the
camp of Barrera,” said Salud.
Barrera
The
33-year-old Marquez, meanwhile, has been consistent in
his desire to give Barrera, nicknamed “The Baby-Faced
Assassin,” a return bout.
“He’s a
great champion. I thank him for giving me an opportunity
to fight for the crown. In return I’m giving him a
rematch,” said Marquez.
Golden
Boy Promotions (GBP), the outfit owned by Oscar de la
Hoya, promotes both Marquez and Barrera. GBP has also
set a September date for a Marquez-Barrera return bout.
Barrera
doesn’t seem to be hot in getting back at his latest
ring tormentor though.
The
former world champion from
Mexico City
is still on vacation and has yet to decide on his next
move.
Barrera
said he’s been contemplating about retiring from the
sport the last three years and that he plans to make
this year his last.
But
Barrera, if Salud is to be believed, has other things in
mind.
Barrera
was supposed to watch Pacquiao’s latest outing last
weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, versus
Mexican Jorge Solis. But Salud had no idea why Barrera
was a no-show.
“Probably, Barrera doesn’t want to rock the boat, so to
speak, regarding his current negotiations with Arum,”
said Salud.
Barrera
has been fighting under GBP since 2003 and ironically,
his first bout under de la Hoya’s outfit was his loss to
Pacquiao.
The
33-year-old Barrera is coming off a close 12-round
verdict loss to compatriot Juan Manuel Marquez last
month at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
But
Barrera, who also lost his World Boxing Council (WBC)
super-featherweight crown in that fight, claimed he was
robbed of a victory.
“The
people saw what really happened inside the ring. There
is no doubt in everybody’s mind that I won that fight,”
said Barrera.
Salud
disclosed that Barrera informed Arum that he has no
official promotional deal with GBP.
Pressed
to for more tangibles of a possible Pacquiao-Barrera
sequel, Salud said money is the main factor why Barrera
wants a rematch with Pacquiao.
“He was
not able to get the money, which he thinks he deserves
in the Marquez fight. I was told Barrera wants one more
fight before he retires,” said Salud.
Financially and logically, Pacquiao is the best option
for Barrera if the Mexican is certain about his plans to
have one last bout.
Pacquiao
is now the top draw in the 130-lb division which was
validated last weekend when more than 14,000 people came
to watch the Filipino kingpin annihilate Solis inside
eight rounds.
Barrera
also has a score to settle with Pacquiao as the Mexican
got an unforgettable 11-round beating from the Filipino
back in November 2003 also at the Alamodome.
Despite
his recent loss to Marquez, Barrera remains as a
possible Pacquiao foe after compiling a 6-1 record since
his 2003 defeat to the Filipino superstar.
Among
his victims in the post-Pacquiao-loss era were Erik
Morales in a WBC title fight and American Olympian Rocky
Juarez, whom he decisioned twice in 2006.
Meanwhile, controversy continued to hound the training
team of Pacquiao.
In a
report that came out from Pacquiao’s unofficial web site
Pacland, Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Justine
Fortune are reportedly splitting up because of money
matters.
According to the web site, Fortune reportedly wants to
get more if not all of the usual 10- percent cut of
Roach as trainer.
Roach,
the long-time trainer of Pacquiao, is entitled to a
10-percent cut off the top from all of the Filipino
fighter’s bouts.
This
time, however, Roach never trained Pacquiao when the
Filipino started his preparations at the Wild Card Gym
but instead assigned Fortune to take charge.
Roach
went to Puerto Rico to head the training team of de la
Hoya, who is also preparing for a megabuck bout versus
pound-for-pound top dog Floyd Pretty Boy Mayweather Jr.
on May 5 in Las Vegas.
Roach,
however, was present at the Alamodome and worked
Pacquiao’s corner as he flew all the way to
San Antonio
the day of the fight.
The
issue cropped up a few weeks before the Pacquiao-Solis
bout which also came out in a national newspaper. Both
Roach and Fortune vehemently denied the issue and even
said that the story was untrue.
BusinessMirror tried to contact Fortune at the Wild Card
Gym but he did not show up in the famed sweat shop
yesterday. |
