Barrera has the Motivation!

Barrera has the Motivation!

By Jason Sardelis (March 10, 2009)

Marco Antonio Barrera “The Baby Faced Assassin” comes into this fight with as much to prove as any of his previous title fights. The motivation here is the title but with a little twist. Barrera wants Khan for no other reason except, Khan has a belt. Amir Khan 19-1, 15 Ko’s, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist holds the WBA International lightweight title and the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title will also be on the line. Titles that would make him the first Mexican-born fighter to win world titles in four separate weight divisions. There is the motivation. The kind motivation he had

meeting world champions Erik Morales Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, and Rocky Juarez. This time motivated enough to travel to The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom on March 14th and face Khan.

This fight very well may become the pinnacle of either fighter’s career. It holds the cherished fourth title for Barrera and a possible win over a recognizable name for Khan. Khan won the title from Oisin Fagan last December dropping him twice and Fagan broke his ankle the first time down prompting his corner to call the fight in the second round. Fagan’s who has six loses with only two coming from names that ring a bell, Paul Spadafora and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Khan was stopped by Breidis Prescott last September and Khan was the biggest name on his resume. Even Khan trainer Freddie roach has been quoted that if Khan loses he will need to get a real job.

Barrera recently has been quoted stating it will be his experience that beats the younger faster Khan. What exactly is that experience? Experience for Barrera is the know-how and skill practiced over 20 years in the ring as a pro and only god knows how many in the gym. The familiarity and understanding of what it takes from being in over twenty five title fights. It is knowledge. The knowledge he has gained always facing the best and recording only 6 defeats in 71 fights. Those defeats to world class champions. Names like Junior Jones (twice), Manny Pacquiao (twice) Juan Manuel Marquez, and Erik Morales who he dropped in the final round and beat twice later.

Over the years he has added that edge of doing what ever it takes. Like in his beating Brit Prince Naseem Hamed 35-0 in 2001 when he was deducted one point in the 12th round for intentionally slamming Hamed's head into a turnbuckle. He has been deducted points for hitting low on the break and even hitting Marquez while he was on the deck. He has also picked himself up off the canvas and gone on to win WBO super bantamweight title fights against Agapito Sanchez in 95 and Kennedy McKinney in 1996.

For many years the trend was the old guard sticking around for one pay day too many. No one will ever forget Ali / Holmes. But thius seems to have a different ring. You can’t dismiss fights like “Big” George Foreman losing to Evander Holyfield then going on to beat Alex Stewart, Jimmy Ellis and Pierre Coetzer before bowing to young Tommy Morrison, only to come back and shock the world stopping Michael Moorer at age 45.

Keeping it recent forty-four year old Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins amazed us beating the young WBC champion Kelly Pavlik, and Ronald Wright, and Antonio Tarver before that. “Sugar” At 35 Shane Mosley banged out thought to be inexorable Antonio Margarito. Just last month 35 year old Juan Manuel Marquez pounded out former lightweight champion Juan Diaz then years his junior. Barrera is a true Mexican “Hall of Fame” fighter that knows what winning his fourth title will do and baby faced Khan may get assassinated. The question is will his legs carry him there?

The undercard will feature:
INTERIM WBO CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 ROUNDS – CO-FEATURE

ENZO MACCARINELLI, Former WBO Champion, Rated WBO No. 1, The Ring No. 6, Swansea, Wales, 29-2, 22 Ko’s. OLA “Kryptonite” AFOLABI, NABO Champion, Rated WBO No. 2, West Hills, California, USA, 13-1, 5Ko’s.

WBO SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 ROUNDS – SPECIAL ATTRACTION

NICKY “Cookie” COOK, WBO Super Featherweight Contender, Rated The Ring No., 6, Dagenham, England, 29-1, 16Ko’s ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ, WBO No. 1 Contender, Rated The Ring No. 9, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, 21-0-1, 12Ko’s.