Barrera Picks Larios; Austin Wants Pacquiao

By Dennis Principe

06.02 - THE camp of IBF superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines may have to wait a little longer in getting another crack at the Marco Antonio Barrera Sweepstakes.

The universally-recognized featherweight champion Barrera has finally chosen compatriot and WBC superbantamweight champion Oscar “Chololo” Larios as his next opponent in an HBO-televised 12-round fight on April 12.

WBA featherweight champion Derrick Gainer and Pacquiao were initially considered as possible opponent but the Barrera camp settled for Larios who had a sensational string of victories.

Gainer will instead fight Colombian southpaw Oscar Leon in the Barrera-Larios undercard.

The 26-year old Larios is a veteran of 51 fights and won 47 (33 KO’s) with three losses and one draw. He won the interim title over another Mexican, Israel “Magnifico” Vasquez by 12th round TKO last May.

November of last year, Larios officially seized the regular WBC title by brutally stopping previously undefeated and defending American champion Willie Jorrin in the first round.

One of his losses was a 5th round TKO inflicted by roughhousing former WBO champion Agapito Sanchez last October 1998. Sanchez once fought Pacquiao in a unification match two years ago which ended in a 6th round Technical Draw.

Larios is expected to make not less that $500,000 in what would probably be the biggest fight of his career.

With the development, American IBF bantamweight champion Tim Austin again issued a challenge to Pacquiao even if it means fighting on Philippine soil.

The undefeated Austin (25-0-1, 22 KO’s) expressed his willingness to fight Pacquiao in the Philippines after his upcoming mandatory defense.

Austin is slated to defend his crown against Rafael Marquez on February 16.

Pacquiao is set to appear in a 10-round non-title fight versus Kazakhstan champion Serik Yeshmangbetov on March 8 at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque City, Philippines.