01.09.08 – by James Slater – As has been reported on ESPN.com, former three-weight world champion and proven great Marco Antonio Barrera has signed a five year deal with promoter extraordinaire Don King. This news has come as quite a shock, especially considering the Mexican’s age of 34. Barrera planning to fight again, once, is one thing, but to plan on having a further five years of ring activity? That’s something else entirely..
Barrera, who has not fought since his rematch loss to Manny Pacquiao in October of last year, severed ties with Golden Boy Promotions in July and now says he wants to become the first Mexican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes. Originally, Marco announced his retirement after the points loss to “Pac-Man,” but now he has surprised us all by signing the five year deal. Can this possibly be a wise move on the part of “The Baby Faced Assassin?”
Barrera has had a long career. Turning pro way back in 1989, the former super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight world champion has engaged in a total of 70 pro bouts so far. Not having won a fight since September 2006, and his rematch points win over Rocky Juarez, Barrera is surely kidding himself if he thinks he has anything like another five hard years left in him. After having fought a number of incredibly draining wars with the likes of Erik Morales, Kennedy McKinney, Junior Jones and Pacquiao, the only thing the 34-year-old legend should be doing now is taking it easy and reflecting on a Hall of Fame career. But Barrera says he can win a world title at lightweight and make boxing history.
According to ESPN, Don King can offer Barrera a chance to make his dream come true. King promotes unified lightweight champion Nate Campbell, and, providing “The Galaxxy Warrior” can get past Joan Guzman later this month, King will promote a Campbell-Barrera showdown next year. Or, should Campbell lose to Guzman, King may match Barrera with Japan’s Yusuke Kobori, who captured the WBA interim lightweight belt back in May. Kobori has a mandatory defence scheduled against yet another King fighter, in Paulus Moses, and should he lose to Moses, Marco would face the Namibian instead. So either way, Barrera looks set to challenge for one version or another of the 135 pound world title some time next year.
It is not beyond reason that the 63-6(42) Barrera can win a version of the lightweight title, but the odds are surely against it. Barrera really has no business opting to fight on, much less for a further five years. But of course, this is his decision and the proud fighter will do as he pleases – even though we all know he has absolutely no need to box again, as he has nothing to prove and should not risk tarnishing his reputation by picking up an additional number of avoidable defeats.