PACQUIAO BATTLES BARRERA IN MANDALAY TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 Oct 2007
LAS VEGAS -- Two of the world's biggest names in boxing clash in a 12-round epic battle today amid the glitz and fireworks of the Sin City when the fire-breathing Manny Pacquiao defends his WBC International superfeatherweight title against Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera at the 12,000-capacity Mandalay Bay Events Center here.
Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KO's) versus Barrera (63-5, 42 KO's) will headline the 10-bout HBO pay-per-view card, which include a female bout and one swing bout.
The Pacquiao-Barrera showdown will be a highly-anticipated rematch of their November 15, 2003 encounter won by Pacquiao in an 11th-round rout that had the Mexican camp claiming distractions contributed to Barrera's loss.
This time, Barrera says there will be no excuses.
At yesterday's weigh-in attended by some 4,000 screaming fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Barrera came in at a healthy 130 lbs, while Pacquiao, wearing flaming red jogging pants, looked pallid and blanced in also making the 130-lb weight limit.
Pacquiao then gulped down on chicken soup backstage after the weigh-in, washed down by pedialyte liquids to replenish lost energy from a frantic effort to make weight. After one hour, Pacquiao's skin reportedly gained its moisture and luster, giving Filipino fans something to cheer about.
Promoters Oscar De la Hoya and Bob Arum, as well as Bernard Hopkins and GBP execs Richard Schaefer and Eric Gomez attended the weigh-in.
Odds
Latest odds at the Mandalay Sportsbook have put Pacquiao a --340 favorite to win today's battle, while Barrera is a +280 underdog to pull off an upset.
Odds that the fight will go the full 12 rounds is placed at +170 while chances of a knockout victory by either fighter is a --200.
A Pacquiao victory by KO is 5/8 while a decision win is placed at 23/10.
A Barrera win by KO is at 7/1 while a decision win by the Mexican is at 7/2.
Officials
Third man on the ring will be outstanding veteran referee Tony Weeks, and when the fight goes the distance, tasked to render judgement are Jerry Roth, Glenn Trowbridge, and Tom Schreck.
The WBC-appointed fight supervisor is GAB Chairman Eric Buhain of the Philippines.
Full line-up
The chief undercard pits WBO featherweight champ Steven Luevano against challenger Antonio Davis in a 12-round bout.
Another 12-rounder pits Librado Andrade against Yusaf Mack for the USBA supermiddleweight title.
The rest of the card pits Francisco Bojado against Steve Forbes; Vicente Escobedo versus Miguel Angel Munguia; Michael Farenas versus Arturo Valenzuela; Rock Allen against Alejandro Ramiro Guzman; Alejandro Perez versus Jaime Villa; Vernie Torres versus Manuel Sarabia; and Ana Julaton versus Hondi Hernandez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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