By James Slater – Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, still in the hunt for a history-making world lightweight title win, returns to action in his native Mexico on December 11th, against 25-year-old Likar Ramos of Barranquilla Colombia. On paper, the 36-year-old faces a dangerous opponent, and Barrera has to be commended for facing a real test, as opposed to a soft touch..
Ramos, 23-3 (17) is no old man at age 25, he hasn’t been inactive as of late, he can bang (as his 17 KO’s show), he is a former (interim) world titlist and, to cap it all off, he is a southpaw. With Barrera having had just one fight since his bad, March 2009 night against Amir Khan, it’s clear to see there could be an upset on the cards in December.
“The Baby Faced Assassin,”66-7(43), hasn’t fought a lefty since his loss to Manny Pacquiao, and while Ramos is obviously no Pac-Man, his stance could trouble the older man. And the power the Colombian has cannot be dismissed. Since losing his interim WBA super-featherweight title to Mexico’s Jorge Solis in Feb. of this year – in a wild affair that saw both men hit the mat, Ramos eventually staying there in the 7th-round courtesy of a body shot – Ramos has won two bouts up at 140-pounds; both wins coming by KO.
The two recent wins may not have come against overly good fighters, but Ramos has proven his class in previous outings. And against the ageing Barrera, the southpaw will be hugely motivated, believing he can and will win.
Barrera, who last fought in June (picking up a ten-round UD over Adailton De Jesus, in what was his first fight in well over a year) may well be rusty in the early going of the December 11th fight. Rusty enough to be caught cold by the younger, faster man? Again, going purely by an on-paper perspective, this upcoming return fight has the look of a dangerous one for Barrera. No doubt wanting to test himself against a good fighter before he goes for a piece of the world lightweight title (Dec 11th’s fight will contest the vacant WBO inter-continental 135-pound strap), Marco figures to get a workout next month, at the very least.
Even if we’re not sure what Ramos has to offer up at lightweight, we don’t really know about Barrera, either. The last meaningful win Marco scored came way back in 2006, when he out-pointed Rocky Juarez, and that was down at 130-pounds. Can Barrera hit hard enough to be successful at 135? Can his legendary chin stand up to a true lightweight’s bomb?
Ramos certainly could crack down at super-featherweight, and if he has carried his power up with him, Barrera could be in trouble. December’s fight should be very interesting, and I personally won’t be all that shocked if Ramos pulls off the upset.