An incredible 23 years on from his first fight against Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera has weighed in on his rival’s professional rematch against Floyd Mayweather.
The money-spinning first encounter between Mayweather and Pacquiao took place in 2015, with Floyd running out a unanimous points winner after 12 rounds of action that underwhelmed many fans.
If that first fight was a touch past its sell-by date, the rematch in September – set to be the first boxing bout hosted at The Sphere in Las Vegas – is nothing but spectacle, but it has the potential to be the biggest spectacle of the sporting calendar.
When told by ES News that the fight would be professionally sanctioned, Barrera dismissed its competitive legitimacy.
“This is [an] exhibition fight. I don’t think [it’s] a real fight. Right now, it’s different.”
Barrera lost to Pacquiao in 2003 via eleventh round stoppage after entering the ropes as favourite to win. Four years later the pair met again, with the Mexican lasting the distance but losing clearly on points.
The rivalry, and the legacy built thereafter, has left a lasting impression on Barrera, who called the Filipino sensation ‘the best ever’ when still discussing this Mayweather rematch.
“Manny’s looked good in his last fight [against Mario Barrios]. He’s 47 years old. Manny Pacquiao is big – he can do whatever he wants. He’s a legend. I think he’s the best, the best [because of] the names that he fought. Big, big names. De La Hoya, Cotto, me… The best.”
The two boxing icons rekindle their rivalry in Sin City on September 19, with the event being streamed live on Netflix.
