BARRERA TRAINING VIDEO UNIMPRESSIVE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Sep 2007
The training video of legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in his hometown of Guadalajara isn?t impressive and indications are that celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is right when he predicts Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao ?will run over this guy.?
Viva Sports will telecast highlights pf Barrera in training on the second and final episode of its two-part special titled ?Repeat or Revenge? on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. over RPN 9 sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum, Pagcor and PCSO.
The training camp footage shows a relaxed Barrera arriving at the gym in Guadalajara along with Mexican ring warrior Jorge Arce and undefeated Japanese sparring partner Takahiro Aoh, a 23 year old southpaw with a record of 15-0 with 8 knockouts.
Barrera went through the workout in a seemingly lackadaisical manner although he appeared to pick up intensity during brief exchanges with Aoh who tried to approximate the whirlwind style of Pacquiao without much successt.
An analysis of the footage showed Barrera working on his uppercut and a right hook as well as a right straight but he didn?t catch the Japanese sparring partner with the kind of blinding speed and ferocity of Pacquiao.
Even in his various conditioning exercises Barrera hardly approximated the intensity and vigor of Pacquiao promoting well-known TV boxing commentator Moy Lainez, a member of the original Team Pacquiao to state that he believes Barrera ?is merely fighting for the money.?
There was no sign of WBA champion Edwin Valero who was supposedly in Barrera?s camp and sparring with the Mexican legend which is something Roach said he doesn?t buy, adding ?it?s a press thing.? Roach indicated he believes they are ?trying to get us to take it lightly.? Roach intimated that although Barrera is ?on the downside a little bit and I don?t think he is what he was the last time we fought (November 15, 2003) if he has one more left in him, this is it.?
Pacquiao?s right jab which was honed in training at the RWS Gym of Rex ?Wakee? Salud in Cebu City ?is really coming along? according to Roach who said that ?with Manny?s speed and power he can knock him (Barrera) out with that jab. He has so much speed, he needs just a little more confidence in that right hand. Its coming.?
Roach said that while Barrera was more of a physical fighter than a dirty fighter ?because it is a fight? they would still watch Barrera?s head and his tactics pointing out that Barrera ?gets frustrated and loses his head? but stressed that both he and Pacquiao were ?prepared for that.?
Barrera was also missing longtime trainer Rudy Perez and his workouts were supervised by his brother Jorge.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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