August 11, 2007

Report: Francisco Salazar
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

As two of the greatest 130 pound fighters took to the dais to announce their rematch in October, two of boxing's biggest personalities garnered the attention as well, putting aside differences and hoping to work together to promote the sport.

Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya created a buzz by posing together for photographers before and after their press conference to announce the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. This epic bout will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 6th.

The bout will top a "Will to Win" card, which will be co-promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. The card will be televised on HBO Pay Per View.

Months ago, Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions were in the midst of an ugly tug-of-war that revolved on who had promotional control of the Filipino superstar Many Pacquiao. Recently,the two sides settled their differences and have begun to work together in promoting fights.

Even De La Hoya seemed to have moved on as he opened the press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Friday.

"Love is flying in the air," said De La Hoya, with his affectionate smile, after shaking hands and posing with Arum. "This is history in the making."

Love may not be flying in the air on the evening of October 6th inside the Mandalay Bay when Pacquiao and Barrera step inside the ring in a rematch of their November 2003 bout. Before becoming a household name, Pacquiao would win by 11th round technical knockout over the Mexican champion.

Himself in numerous high-profile fights, De La Hoya will enjoy watching what he and most reporters and boxing insiders believe will be a war.

"I am happy to work with Top Rank," said De La Hoya, who himself was promoted by Bob Arum for many years as a fighter. "Making this fight happen in an honor. I am very proud to work with Top Rank. I look forward to working with Top Rank and making many more fights.

Regarding the Pacquiao-Barrera fight, De La Hoya anticipates with becoming an instant classic.

"This fight will be a continuation of their first encounter in San Antonio. Pacquiao was fighting a true legend in Barrera. Barrera proves when he faces a champion, he steps up his performance. He has done so in the past with Prince Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales. Barrera proves over and over again that you can never count him out and that he is a true champion."

Aside from pointing out that it was the first time De La Hoya has ever introduced him to speak when it was his turn to the podium, Arum anticipated a war between two of boxing's pound for pound fighters.

"It is a pleasure to work with Golden Boy. They will be the future of boxing. It is great to work together rather to work against each other. When you count out Marco Antonio Barrera, he comes out that much stronger."

As a jab towards Floyd Mayweather, Arum stated, "We feel that Pacquiao is the best pound for pound fighter in the world. He has the determination, skill, and punching power. If you ask fight fans who they want to see, they will say Pacquiao."

Pacquiao and Barrera were cordial towards one another, complimenting one another on their careers and their talent.

For Barrera (63-5, 42 KO's), who is coming off a decision loss in one of the fights of the year against Juan Manuel Marquez, this might be the last bout of a Hall of Fame career. He anticipates a war as in the last fight.

"I want to thank Pacquiao and Bob Arum for giving me an opportunity to fight them," said Barrera, who spoke in improved English. "I'm a typical Mexican fighter in that I learn from the first fight to win in the second fight. In the first fight, I was the superstar and he was the hungry fighter. Now, it is the opposite. This is more than likely my last year in this beautiful sport. I want to come out as a winner before I retire."

The soft-spoken Pacquiao, who owns the WBC International Super Featherweight title, wanted the rematch to prove that the first fight was not a fluke and had nothing to do with Barrera claiming problems in camp as the reason he lost.

On this day, Pacquiao (44-3-2, 34 KO's) praised Barrera and anticipates the best from him.

"I would like to thank Marco Antonio Barrera. It will be a good fight. We are going to give the fans another good fight. I will try my best to give the Filipino people and the rest of the world another good fight. I am happy to fight for the first time at the Mandalay Bay."

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, rejected claims from critics who stated that Barrera is not the fighter he once was.

"We expect Barrera to be at his best."

Tickets are priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, and $100. Tickets could be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations. Tickets could also be purchased online at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com

HBO Pay Per View will produce and distribute the bout with a suggested retail price of $49.95.