05.01.07 – By Ricardo Lois, BoxingConfidential.com — Marco Antonio Barrera has been quiet, very quiet. On November 15th, 2003, Marco Antonio Barrera was handed the most embarrassing defeat of his career at the hands of Manny Pacquiao. After the fight, many called for his retirement, even his long time trainer Rudy Perez was quoted as saying it might be time for Marco to retire. The last three years Marco has been searching for a rematch with Pacquiao.
A promotional tug of war between Golden Boy and Top Rank, Barrera, President of Golden Boy – Mexico, might never get a chance to avenge his defeat. As the drama played out with Pacquiao’s promotional rights and the announcement was finally made by Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions that Barrera would be facing fellow Mexico City native Juan Manuel Marquez on March 14th, not a peep has been heard from Barrera..
I guess we should not be surprised, that is Marco’s way, short with words, but a gentleman through and through; even though he must be struggling with the disappointment of seeing a rematch with Pacquiao float away due to reasons he cannot fully control.
Still, it stirred me that Barrera has not been heard from, so I picked up the phone and called the next best thing to the Baby Faced Assassin, Roberto Diaz, long time assistant to the Mexican legand.
“Marco was at the Pacquiao-Morales fight. After the fight,” said Diaz, “Marco asked Oscar (De La Hoya) and Richard (Schaefer) for a rematch with Pacquiao. That is the fight he wanted.”
Unfortunately, the reality of a fight with Pacquiao is slim to none, as Marco looks to ride of into the Mexican sunset soon.
“Marco will stand by his decision to retire at the end of 2007, after two more fights.”
Barrera is class, and Diaz is class, just about everyone around Marco are true, well-spoken gentlemen, with little regret or negativity ever publicly spewed. With Marquez now on the horizon, Diaz had the following to say.
“The fight will be great. Marquez is an excellent fighter and it will be a wonderful event. It will be a tough and exciting fight, just like anytime two Mexican greats get in the ring to do battle.”
Kind words from Diaz, who must know the public was waiting to see Barrera test his merit, one more time, against Pacquiao. Now, Marquez presents a dangerous challenge. A loss can forever erase the possibility of a rematch with the Filipino for Barrera, and a win, well, a win is not likely to bring him Pacquiao, either.
Let us hope that Golden Boy and Top Rank can kiss and make-up because future hall of famer does not deserve to leave the sport with a major question mark hanging over his head.
“What would have happened if I got another shot at Pacquiao?”