30.10.03 – With horrific fires raging through Southern California, featherweight superstar Marco Antonio Barrera had a sudden change of plans as he prepares for his November 15th bout with Philippine bomber Manny Pacquaio at The Alamodome in San Antonio.
Barrera, along with all members of his training camp, was asked to evacuate Oscar De La Hoya’s Big Bear training facility Tuesday night by the Sheriff’s department as a safety precaution. No members of Team Barrera were harmed, but they were told that evacuation was necessary due to the close proximity of the fire and the possibility of smoke inhalation.
“I’d like to thank the Sheriff’s department and the emergency workers who are out there trying to keep us safe in this horrible time,” said Barrera. “My prayers go out to the victims and all other people affected by this tragedy.”
Not to be deterred from his preparation, Barrera spent Tuesday night at the Hilton hotel in Pasadena before resuming training and sparring at the Oscar De La Hoya Youth Center in East Los Angeles Wednesday. He will commence final preparations for the fight in San Antonio beginning Thursday.
“Being in San Antonio two weeks early will actually benefit me as I prepare for Pacquaio,” said Barrera. “My training in Big Bear was going great, and I’m expecting even better things in San Antonio. The fans are in for a great show November 15.”
Barrera-Pacquiao, a 12 round bout for the featherweight championship of the world, will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT. The site of the event, the Alamodome, has a storied boxing history, having hosted the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Jesse James Leija, Azumah Nelson, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Pernell Whitaker. In fact, the Chavez-Whitaker bout in 1993 brought in 78,000 fans, still the record for the largest indoor boxing audience in history.
In the November 15 co-feature, part of an exciting night of boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions, former world champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija (44-6-2, 18 KOs ), a proud native of San Antonio , will take on Fernando Mena (18-4) from Durango , Mexico in a bout scheduled for ten rounds.
Tickets for Barrera-Pacquiao, priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $150 and $300 are on sale now at the Alamodome box office, or by calling (210) 224-9600. You may also purchase tickets online at www.ticketmaster.com or at Ticket master outlets.