Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera

Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (1st meeting)

11th of September 2003

Pacquiao went on to defend his title four times with expert training from Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym, improving his hand speed and mental preparation before the match that many consider to have defined his career, a bout against the Mexican boxing idol, Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico. Pacquiao, moving up in weight and in his first fight ever in the Featherweight Division, brought his power with him and defeated Barrera via a TKO in the 11th round at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, where the crowd is overwhelming on Barrera's side. Pacquiao was recognized as sportsman by Ring Magazine after his victory.

Manny Pacquiao 125lbs beat Marco Antonio Barrera 126lbs by TKO in round 11 of 12 Location:Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Referee: Laurence Cole
Judge: Ray Hawkins 97-90
Judge: Gale Van Hoy 97-89
Judge: Rick Crocker 97-90
Time: 2:56
Weights: Pacquiao 125 lbs, Barrera 126 lbs

Manny Pacquiao slipped in the 1st round, but was counted as a knockout , deducting a point for Pacquiao. The Pacman ferociously went after Barrera, eventually wearing and knocking him out in the 3rd round.

In the succeeding rounds, Pacquiao incessantly pounded Barrera with his lightning fast combination right hooks and left power punches, prompting Barrera to kneel from exhaustion of defending.

Barrera, in frustration head butted Pacquiao, but to no avail, Pacquiao was too much. Barrera's corner stopped the fight in the 11th round.

And Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao won the game again by TKO.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (2nd meeting)

The long wait is over for Marco Antonio Barrera for four years after the original meeting in San Antonio when the great Mexican fighter was surprisingly stopped in the 11th round.

Pacquiao took the opening round with a right hook to the body while on the second round he finished it with a good left after an incredible exchange. Barrera fought back in the third round and then caught Pacquiao with an elbow in the fourth but Pacquiao answered with a couple of solid shots to the head. The fifth round was close as both men once again traded vicious shots in one burst. It was Barrera’s best round at that point. Pacquiao stormed back in the sixth round with a series of great combinations. A good one-two combination by Barrera in round eight drew an outbreak of punches from Pacquiao in the ninth. And in the final round Manny Pacquiao, confident of victory, didn’t take any risks and neither did Barrera who's only chance for victory was a knockout. Manny Pacquiao won by Unanimous Decision.

Manny Pacquiao took a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Barrera on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who previously stopped Barrera four years ago, was again the aggressor and outworked Marco Antonio Barrera, who tried to keep the fight tactical.

Manny Pacquiao 130lbs beat Marco Antonio Barrera 130lbs by UD in round 12 of 12
Location: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Referee: Tony Weeks
Judge: Jerry Roth 118-109
Judge: Glenn Trowbridge 118-109
Judge: Tom Schreck 115-112
Poster

* WBC International Super Featherweight Title (Pacquiao's 5th defense)
* Weights: 130 lbs (each)
* Promoters: Oscar De La Hoya: Golden Boy Promotions, Bob Arum: Top Rank

• Pacquiao hardly outworked Barrera, as Barrera's plan was to keep the fight tactical.
• There were no KD's during the fight
• Barrera sustained a cut under his right eye derived from a headbutt.
• Barrera was deducted a point for hitting after the break in round eleven.

In a post fight interview Pacquiao said he was “careful of Barrera’s use of his head” even as admitted that the Mexican icon was “still strong and not an easy opponent”. Pacquiao said Barrera “never really hurt me”, but said he respected him.

Roach himself had a talk with Barrera in the ring after both fighters had embraced and tapped the Mexican kindly on the head. Roach later praised Barrera for “showing a lot of heart and guts.”