By Jason Sardelis: 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
HBO SPORTS’ PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7,
A FOUR-EPISODE ALL-ACCESS SERIES LEADING UP TO THE
PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TWO BOXING SUPERSTARS,
DEBUTS APRIL 11, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
Series Kicks Off As Part Of A Night Of Boxing On HBO, Also Featuring The Debut Of
The Documentary “Thrilla In Manila” And The “World Championship Boxing” Bout
Featuring Winky Wright And Paul Williams
HBO Sports’ groundbreaking reality franchise “24/7,” which captured three Sports Emmy® Awards for its first season and produced two acclaimed editions in year two, will return with PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports. Debuting SATURDAY, APRIL 11 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), the series spotlights two of boxing’s most intriguing superstars – Manny Pacquiao, the sport’s reigning pound-for-pound king, and Ricky Hatton, his fiery opponent from across the pond – as they prepare for their May 2 junior welterweight pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas.
Noted Greenburg, “This latest edition of ‘24/7’ features two of the most talented and personable fighters in boxing today, and we look forward to bringing their compelling storylines and personalities to our subscribers in what promises to be engaging television. The trainers Floyd Sr. and Freddie Roach will likely add fireworks to the series. This fight is sure to generate a lot of excitement and energy worldwide, and we hope to capture those dramatic moments.”
Episodes two and three of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 debut on subsequent Saturdays – APRIL 18 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and 25 (9:35-10:00 p.m.) – while the finale debuts FRIDAY, MAY 1 (9:30-10:00 p.m.), the night before the fight. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.
PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as these determined warriors, both making their second “24/7” appearance, prepare for the first mega-fight of 2009. A hero in his native Philippines, the 30-year-old Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) is regarded by most boxing observers as the sport’s unofficial pound-for-pound king. Demonstrating knockout power in five weight classes, his recent victory over his boxing idol, ring legend Oscar de la Hoya, was cause for national celebration in his homeland. Amid growing worldwide celebrity, he returns to the 140-pound division to take on the hard-hitting Hatton.
Hailing from the streets of Manchester, England, Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) has a tenacious fighting style and a devout following. The 30-year-old suffered his only professional loss in December 2007 when he battled future Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather Jr. as a welterweight. Now back in the junior welterweight ranks, he wants to prove himself the most formidable fighter in the division.
Storylines for this fast-paced series will include the interaction between Pacquiao and his trusted trainer and friend Freddie Roach, as well as the fascinating alliance of Hatton and outspoken trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.
PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 is the latest installment of the widely acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began on HBO in 2007 with “De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7” and “Mayweather/Hatton 24/7.” The series returned in 2008 with “Calzaghe/Jones 24/7” and “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7.”
Newsweek described the first installment of “24/7” as “an engrossing look at both a boxing match and a personal circus, and fans of human drama will want to have a ringside seat.” ESPN The Magazine proclaimed the series “a masterfully entertaining reality show,” while the New York Daily News called it “compelling television.”
On Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Hatton,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The launch of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 is part of a compelling night of boxing programming that also includes the debut of the documentary “Thrilla in Manila” and an intriguing battle between two of the sport’s most formidable competitors. Debuting at 8:00 p.m. (ET)/10:00 p.m. (PT), “Thrilla in Manila” tells the story of the final fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, whose epic three-bout series from 1971 to 1975 transcended the sport. The 12-round “World Championship Boxing” middleweight bout between Winky Wright and Paul Williams will be seen live from Las Vegas at 10:00 p.m. (ET)/7:00 p.m. (PT).
At the 2008 Sports Emmy® Awards, “De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7” was honored in the category of Outstanding Edited Sports Special, while “Mayweather/Hatton 24/7” was honored in the categories of Outstanding Camera Work and Outstanding Writing.
The executive producers of PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7 are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner. Liev Schreiber narrates. Aaron Cohen is the writer.
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