BARRERA WILL RETIRE IF HE CAN'T FIGHT PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 May 2007
Former WBC super featherweight champion, legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera says he will retire if he cant fight Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in a rematch this year.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Arum who has set aside an October 6 fight date for Pacquiao revealed that he had a number of fighters lined up without any problem. However, Arum revealed “there is a question about Barrera” who has indicated he wants a rematch with Pacquiao to erase the stigma of the eleventh round demolition he suffered in November 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
Arum who has predicted it would be an exciting fight said Barrera “is insisting that his lawyers will demonstrate he can do the fight” despite the fact that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has firmly stated that Barrera is under a promotional contract with Golden Boy. Top Rank and Golden Boy are currently engaged in a sometimes bitter legal battle over who has the promotional rights to Pacquiao.
The legal tussle was sparked after Pacquiao signed a seven-fight deal with Golden Boy despite Arum's claim that there was a specific provision in his fight contract for the third battle with Erik Morales that prohibited him from signing with another promoter. Some two months later Arum signed a four-fight deal with Pacquiao who publicly announced last December in Manila that Arum was his promoter.
According to Arum, Barrera has “offered to talk to the Golden Boy people and tell them that’s the fight (against Pacquiao) that he wants otherwise he will retire.”
The astute 75 year old promoter said he had heard from “all of the possible contenders” and planned to “discuss with Pacquiao exactly who he wants to fight because I am going to produce everybody that I can and leave the decision up to him.”
Arum said that undefeated KO artist WBO champion Edwin Valero who has 22 knockouts in 22 fights “is one of the possibilities” but not necessarily the easiest fight to do. Arum had earlier said a Pacquiao-Valero showdown in Macau would be a tremendous attraction and that a 17,000 seat venue at the Venetian would be available.
He said from his understanding Joan Guzman who injured his hand resulting in the cancellation of his lightweight title fight against Michael Katsidis “is clearly able to do the fight” adding “that’s what they told me” although Golden Boy has said they hold the promotional rights to Guzman.
Arum also mentioned WBC super featherweight No.2 Humberto Soto who he said “can do the fight if he beats Manny’s brother Bobby Pacquiao” in their June 6 clash at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
PhilBoxing.com Special Coverage: Pacquiao vs Barrera II.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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