07.11.03 – LOS ANGELES, November 6 – With a clean bill of health from doctors, and a Texas boxing license in his hand, Marco Antonio Barrera is eager to put the focus on his November 15 bout with Manny Pacquiao back where it belongs on the fight. I’m happy that this whole situation is over with, and now people can get back to talking about what is going to be one of the great fights of the year, said Barrera from his San Antonio training camp. My family and my team has kept me focused, and on November 15, I’m ready to go to war. Last month, it was revealed that on August 29, 1997, Barrera underwent surgery to remove a very small group of malformed blood vessels in his head, a rare genetic condition unrelated to his boxing career. As part of the procedure, a few small, protective implants were inserted at the point of surgery. These implants provide no competitive advantage or disadvantage.
Since the surgery, Barrera has been examined by numerous doctors, and each has given him the green light to continue fighting. He has also fought 16 times since the surgery with no ill effects. As part of the process of being licensed by the Texas Boxing Commission, Barrera was required to undergo a neurological exam by Dr. Andres H. Keichian, as well as Texas Commission doctor Jorge Guerrero. After the examination, in a letter dated November 3, 2003, Dr. Keichian wrote: The prognosis of this condition in Mr. Barrera is excellent.
Based on his clinical history and neurological evaluation I believe that Mr. Barrera is fit to participate in combative sports.
Dr. Guerrero adds, He’s completely cleared. We did a special three-dimensional CT scan of the cranial bone. When the bone does not completely enclose the craniotomy area, then you’ve got a problem. This is completely closed (on Barrera), and it’s been proven now. His cavernous angioma, all that is is a dilated blood vessel. This is a dilated vein that has no pressure in it and has been taken away, and I compare it to appendicitis. You take the appendix out and you’ll never have another appendicitis again. That’s been taken care of, and he’s as good as you and me. With the recommendation of Doctors Keichian and Guerrero, the Texas Boxing Commission granted the Baby-Faced Assassin his license today, November 6. Some Facts about Marco Antonio Barrera since his surgery in 1997: He has fought 16 times, winning 14, with one disputed decision loss and one no contest. Among those 16 opponents were current or former world champions Erik Morales, Johnny Tapia, Naseem Hamed, Kevin Kelley, and Jesus Salud. He has fought 108 rounds, going the 12 round championship distance six times His controversial 2000 decision loss to Morales was voted Fight of the Year for its compelling give and take action over 12 heated rounds. After surgery, Barrera fought three tune-up fights in 1998. From October of 1998 to the present, Barrera’s opponents have had a combined 372-25-7 record. Since surgery, Barrera has won the WBO super bantamweight title and defended it six times. His victory in the rematch with Morales in 2002 also earned him the prestigious Ring magazine featherweight belt.
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 Ticketmaster outlets.