Mexico and the rest of the boxing world is waiting on the edge of their seats for the super fight this Saturday which sees Marco Antonio Barrera taking on Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.
Barrera goes into the fight defending his WBC super featherweight crown against Marquez the challenger who is also from Mexico City.
I am going to back Barrera for this fight as I just think that overall, he is the better boxer.
Although there is no difference in their ages, Marquez is an ex-WBA and IBF featherweight champion whereas Barrera has won world titles at three weights.
Marquez has won 46 of his 50 fight but Barrera has more experience and more wins to his name as he has won 63 of his 68 fights.
What really won Barrera a ton of respect from boxing fans including myself, was when he tore “Prince” Naseem Hamed apart in their fight in 2001. Barrera really gave Hamed a boxing lesson in that fight, take a look at the video of it below.
He won and impressive trilogy with another fellow Mexican boxer, Erik Morales, 2-1 and again those are fights worth watching.
That has to be one of the greatest boxing trilogies…and Barrera won it!
Barrera has only been defeated against the boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, who I regard as the best pound for pound boxer in the world at the moment, with the exception of Floyd Mayweather.
“I have achieved all I wanted in the sport,” said Barrera.
“I am now a three-time world champion. It’s time I finished in fighting. One or two more fights, and then bye-bye.”
While the business savvy Barrera is a partner in Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Marquez’s career has undoubtedly suffered from poor management. He began his pro career in 1993, but he had to wait until 2003 before winning his first world title, a proposed showdown with Hamed having never happened.
In 2004, he (somehow?) drew with Pacquiao even thought the Pacman floored him three times in the first round. However Marquez reportedly priced himself out of a rematch. Bad choice (if this is true). He was then stripped of his titles when his next match failed to draw any purse bids and then he lost to new WBA title-holder Chris John last March for WAY less money than he could have earned for a Pacquiao rematch.
“I’ve been wanting this fight for six years,” challenger Marquez said. “I feel very happy it’s finally happening.”
So I think Barrera will win? What do you think?
