Connect with us

Articles of 2007

Last Call For 33 1/2 Year-Old Barrera?

Published

on

Is it time yet? Have the Fates determined that Manny Pacquiao’s recent aura of invincibility should be pierced? Has he been conspiring with the Fates, unknowingly, by taking his eyes off the prize in the ring, and spreading himself too thin? Has he been partying too much, soaking up the adulation excessively? Has he gotten too big for his britches, running for public office, building his business empire with Trumpian enthusiasm?

I doubt it.

I believe Manny Pacquiao’s gifts as an athlete, his hand speed and reflexes, and his iron will, have not deteriorated one stitch, and that his opponent’s have.

I believe Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny’s foe on Saturday evening, has slipped since the two squared off, on Nov. 15, 2003.

There’s no shame in that.

“A man's age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories,” a wise man once said. True, but that eloquent assertion don’t do nothing to block hand-missiles aimed at your face, which you can’t slip or block because your reflexes have dulled.

You think aging is cruel for an actress, because parts go to new kids on the block, and men don’t slobber like they used?

Try aging in the ring… now that’s a cruel joke.

Fans of the Mexican Assassin, who hasn’t been Baby-Faced since Lewinsky was Leno’s favorite target, could argue that I’m wrong. He’s been winning, mostly, and that’s the most obvious criteria for determining deterioration.

Barrera’s 6-1 since Manny earned a TKO 11 win in San Antonio in 2003. But some of those wins are just a wee bit tainted. Not like those e-coli burgers that had people puking out of both ends last week, but still, tainted.

First, Mzonke Fana (4-9-05). Bless him, he arguably doesn’t really deserve the sort of fights he manages to land. His record is built on suspect opposition, and he is the product of skillful management as much as anything. A win over Fana, for Barrera, is a given. A loss would’ve confirmed that he’s slipped irreparably, but a win proves little. He could beat Fana, an inferior athlete, on muscle memory alone.

A win over Australian Robbie Peden (9-17-05), then almost 32-years old, on the downside after engaging in a few too many wars, isn’t to be dismissed quickly. Peden was a tough customer, with tons of heart. All due respect to Peden, though, but Barrera just hammered the last nail into his career coffin.

Then, back to back wins over Rocky Juarez.

The first, on May 20th, 2006, could’ve gone either way. That was the fight that featured scorecard follies, as the bout was initially ruled a draw. A transcribing error, by poor Rebecca Alvarez, was responsible. The error was caught and Barrera was awarded a split decision win. The fans in attendance in California didn’t think so…they booed the draw lustily. They saw Barrera spit the bit, spit out his mouthpiece four times as he got hammered. They saw the blood coming from his nose and mouth. They saw a fighter in decline.

Hat off to Barrera, he used his veteran wisdom to take the rematch with Juarez with less controversy. In Vegas, on Sept 16, 2006, he was the Jerry Lewis of jabs, jab-a-thoning his way to a UD12. Could he employ the same tactic and strategy against the more-feverishly offensively minded Pac Man? Not in a million years, which is how long it seems like Barrera’s been fighting.

In his last outing, against Juan Manuel Marquez in March, it was back to the fan-friendly style of old. Barrera, who is 33 ½ , traded with Marquez, and at the end of the day, his foe’s face looked the worse for wear. The judges, though, didn’t go by the bruising and cutting, and didn’t fall for Barrera’s late-round flurrying. A vet can only make his sneaky vet tricks go so far. After that bout, Barrera considered retirement. He may do more than consider the option once Pac Man opens up that whirling dervish display on his face once again.

In the first face-off between Pac Man and Barrera, there were knockdowns in the third and the 11th, which is when Barrera’s corner tossed in the towel. Back then, Barrera was on peoples’ pound for pound lists, and the loss had him mulling retirement. His trainer Rudy Perez wanted him to hang up the gloves then. He didn’t like that Pac Man had a 309 to 172 edge in punches landed, or his man’s bruised, puffed up face. That night, Pac Man’s win was considered an upset. On Saturday, it will not be, though we may look back on it for another reason: the last fight in a glorious career of a Mexican fighting legend.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles3 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending