Barrera dares Pacquiao

LOS ANGELES — Marco Antonio Barrera was once known as the Baby-Faced Assassin. Today, he’s no longer baby-faced. The Mexican is more like battle-scarred. And as for being an assassin, Barrera is hardly the frightening gladiator he used to be.

Manny Pacquiao turned Barrera’s world upside down when the Filipino slugger stopped him to become the undisputed featherweight boxing champion last November.

Before the Pacquiao massacre, Barrera was ranked No. 3 in the honor roll of the world’s best fighters, pound for pound. After the fight, the Mexican was stricken out of the top 10 and Pacquiao broke in at No. 5.

It took Barrera seven months to return to the ring. There was talk he would hang up his gloves particularly as news leaked out that he had a metal plate in his head. But Barrera was determined to prove himself to Oscar de la Hoya who signed him to a Golden Boy contract last year.

Barrera never gave Pacquiao full credit for the 11th round stoppage. He told Carlos Arias of the Orange County Register he had "an off night" when he lost to Pacquiao and was bothered by a lot of distractions, like breaking up camp in Big Bear because of the surrounding forest fires and the law suit stemming from his decision to leave manager Ricardo Maldonado for de la Hoya.

Arias said Barrera brushed off talk that Pacquiao took too much out of him.

"I want to show everyone that this is not the first time I’ve gotten up from a loss to come back," said Barrera who lost twice to Junior Jones, once to Erik Morales and once to Pacquiao in a four-loss career. "I worked very hard because I want to prove to the people that I am back."

Barrera’s adviser Richard Schaefer said: "This time there were no distractions. Marco is determined to reclaim his spot among the best pound-for-pound fighters."

Last Saturday, Barrera was back in action against two-time world champion Paulie Ayala at the open-air 7,500-seat Home Depot Center tennis arena in Carson City, about a 30-minute drive from here.

Tickets were priced from $25 to $200. The show began at 5:45 p.m. The main fights were aired on HBO (Home Box Office) on a delayed basis, starting at 9:45 p.m.

About 5,700 fans watched the proceedings. A huge, flashing sign near the arena, visible from the freeway, called attention to the "Battle under the Stars."

Ayala, who outpointed nondescript Edel Ruiz late last year in his first bout since losing to Morales, was no match for Barrera. First, he doesn’t hit hard. Second, he’s over the hill. And third, he’s way over his head fighting in the featherweight division.

Barrera, 30, destroyed Ayala with conviction. He never let up in blasting Ayala upstairs and downstairs. In the first three rounds, punch stats revealed Barrera landed 71 punches to Ayala’s 13. A devastating body attack left Ayala gasping for breath. In the eighth round, Ayala dropped to one knee from a left hook to the body and a left hook to the head. He got up but fell once more from a left hook to the body. Ayala refused to give up and survived the assault.

The end came at 2:34 of the 10th as Ayala collapsed from a left hook to the ribs. Referee Pat Russell stepped in to halt the carnage. Barrera led in the three judges’ scorecards–88-81, 88-81 and 90-79.

After the demolition, Barrera immediately said he’s challenging Pacquiao to a rematch.

"I’m that type of hard-headed Mexican," said Barrera. "I need that second fight to learn my lesson."

If Pacquiao isn’t available, Barrera will shoot for either Morales in a rubber match or World Boxing Council featherweight titlist In Jin Chi.

Arias said Pacquiao will take on Juan Manuel Marquez in a rematch late this year. Another writer, Dan Rafael of USA Today, said the return bout will be held in January. There has been no official announcement from HBO on a schedule for the rematch.

As for Barrera, beating Ayala meant little. Sure, Ayala made Barrera look good in the ring. But any patsy would’ve done the same.

If de la Hoya offers a king’s ransom for Pacquiao to battle Barrera in a rematch, the Filipino should grab the chance to earn what could be the biggest paycheck in his career. Pacquiao should find it a lot easier disposing of Barrera again than Marquez.