JOHN WANTS WINNER OF PACQUIAO-BARRERA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Aug 2007
Obviously looking to make a name for himself WBA featherweight champion Chris “The Dragon” John says he wants “to fight the winner of the October 6 Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch.”
Egged on by former all-time great Jeff Fenech and trainer Craig Christian, John went to the extent of saying that “maybe Barrera can win. I think he can come back, but a fight with Manny Pacquiao will be a great fight as well when I move up to junior lightweight.”
The Indonesian champion who is undefeated with a record of 40-0-1 with 21 knockouts was quoted by the Australian website Sportsnut.com which also reported that John, with the backing of Fenech, was “about to embark on a training program to beef him up to 130 pounds for an assault on Filipino idol Manny Pacquiao.”
Fenech sought to sell the idea of a Pacquiao-John fight by saying that the Indonesian is “a brilliant fighter” and although Fenech claimed he was a big Pacquiao fan he said Pacquiao “has a wild style and I see some weaknesses there in his defense. Chris is pretty much the perfect package in terms of balance, jab and defensive skills.”
Trainer Christian said he wants John to have a warm-up fight at 130 pounds before he fights any of the big names adding that Pacquiao was the ultimate target.
Christian was quoted as telling well-known and respected boxing writer Paul Upham they will have John on a training program which will “put him right up there with Pacquiao in power and strength.”
John remained unbeaten when he forced Japanese challenger Zaiki Takemoto (21-7-1, 12 KO’s) to retire after round nine. John had earlier dropped the Japanese in the sixth and eighth rounds.
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