MANNY PACQUIAO vs MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA II

The last time that Pacquiao beat Barrera, he was primarily a one handed fighter (his best/only punch was really the straight left). Since that time, due to the brilliant training of Freddie Roach, Mannie has developed into a deadly, versatile fighter. His right hook and right jab have become very powerful weapons for him. Most importantly, his legs are better, his movement is tighter, and he works more intelligent angles. Overall, he is a complete fighter now. He boxes, he brawls, he decimates people.

However, I can see Pacquiao overlooking a fighter who most poeple see as "Over the Hill" and "on his way out". And I believe that Barrera is a smart man, he isn't going to go in there with the expectation to lose. He held Marquez to a close decision win (and knocked him down to make it even more convincing). Marquez, in my eyes, is comparable to Pacquiao on the pound for pound list (might even surpass him in pure boxing skill), and Barrera more than held his own with him. I see Barrera edging ahead with a close, hard-fought, decision. This, of course, is conditional. Barrera will have to box smart (as he did against R.Juarez) to outpoint the aggresive and stronger Manny. And Pacquiao will have to come in overconfident, and perhaps under-trained.

So...Barrera by Split Decision.

Barrera actually did pretty good boxing and keeping Pacquiao from destroying him. In fact, he did so good that I got a little frustrated because I was hoping for more of a slug fest when he actually showed up to box. I thought Pacquiao should have taken the fight a little more seriously, especially when he was in the locker room. He was smiling a little and it seemed like he didn't take the fight too seriously. Either that or he's just happy for the fight. Also I think he's taking Freddy Roach for granted just a bit. In between rounds it would seems like he would pay more attention to the Filipino guy speaking either Tagalog or Bisaya. But probably he was just translating, but anyways Pacquiao also did pretty good. Other than the fact he head butted Barrera, he fought a good fight.