SULAIMAN GIVES BARRERA THE EDGE OVER MARQUEZ
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 15 Mar 2007
WBC president Jose Sulaiman has given legendary super featherweight Marco Antonio Barrera the edge over featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in the “Fearless” battle of the two Mexicans at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino on Sunday morning Manila Time.
Sulaiman told well-known boxing writer James Blears of boxingscene.com that Barrera had “many more tough challenges than Marquez and Marquez has fought many bouts with second level fighters so in that regard Barrera has an edge.”
Sulaiman said that Barrera can box and punch while Marquez has a different style. He said Marquez is a boxer and boxes well but pointed out that “he doesn’t get away from his technique.”
Sulaiman said there’s no question that Marquez is good but added “he needs to be at his best if he wants to win the WBC title” from Barrera. At the same time Sulaiman remarked that “if there’s going to be a change in tactics, the one that has more ability for change is Barrera.”
Musing on the lack of pre-fight hype or verbal aggression, the WBC president said “Mexican fighters talk with their fists. The world knows that. Those who insult and offend, often end up on the canvas. So fellow Mexicans are not aggressive in this way but when they get into the ring, my God they are windmills.”
The winner of the Barrera-Marquez battle which will be telecast by the giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN will be in line for a megabuck rematch with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao who demolished Barrera in November 2003 and despite dropping Marquez three times in the first round was held to a controversial draw.
Pacquiao told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today in a recent interview that he expected Barrera to win and was looking ahead to a rematch in September.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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