28.02.06 – By James Slater: There is a storm in his eyes when he is in the ring. He sweeps across the canvas like a typhoon and, more often than not, leaves his opponent looking like the victim of a natural disaster – bewildered, battered and broken. Yet there is also another side to this fighting master’s ring prowess. He is capable of solving any puzzle posed to him in the squared circle, no matter how confusing, with concealed glee on his handsome features and, as a result, he comes through triumphantly with as many flying colors as one could wish to see break forth from a sky sweetened by a rainbow.
Therefore, not only is this ring legend capable of reducing his opponent’s house to rubble, he is also more than sufficiently educated in his craft so as to be able to pass any examination of his skills in a manner that leaves the person who set such an assignment looking far more like the pupil, as opposed to the teacher.
And so to the name of the man in possession of this boxing brilliance; he is Mexico’s finest ever fighter – Marco Antonio Barrera. The finest fighting produce of the great country of Mexico? Begging Julio Cesar Chavez’ pardon, yes, he is. And though I can understand why many would sooner hail Cesar, I’m more inclined to salute Antonio.
Ah yes, his detractors cry, but what about that business with Manny Pacquiao? And indeed, Marco was humbled back in November 2003. But to this I say it was poor preparation and interruptions as much as anything that led to the downfall of “The Baby-faced Assassin”. Distractions in the form of Forest fires, managerial problems and a news media all too keen to blab the exclusive on a metal inserted cranium. These factors offered no end of assistance to Mr. Pacquiao. Which is to take nothing from the Filipino dynamo. Manny is, no doubt, a man who many could effortlessly conjure up a metaphor for, regarding his fighting style. For example, is he not comparable to a forest fire, raging and destructive as he is when in the ring? But while a fire burns itself out, or is extinguished, a typhoon can only blow itself out. Which is what I believe happened to Barrera back in November 2003. Due to poor preparation, Marco blew himself out. It won’t happen in a rematch.
With such a return, expect to see both sides of Barrera’s fighting style, which, in the end, will see to it that his rival’s fire will be reduced to merely dying embers only.
Barrera on points in the sequel.