Manny rates Barrera toughest

Two-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said the other day the toughest opponent he’s ever faced was Marco Antonio Barrera. He ranked the World Boxing Council superfeatherweight champion his most formidable foe over Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, in that order.

Ironically, Pacquiao has not beaten either Morales or Marquez and he stopped Barrera in the 11th round of a Las Vegas brawl in November 2003. Pacquiao lost to Morales on a unanimous decision and drew with Marquez.

Pacquiao’s close friend and prominent General Santos City businessman Clem Asencio said the fighter once intimated his plan of retiring in five years after engaging the Mexican fighters in million-dollar rematches.

But Pacquiao said it’s not likely he’ll face Marquez in a return bout unless the International Boxing Federation featherweight titlist moves up to the 130-pound division.

Pacquiao confirmed he’s not stepping down to the featherweight class just to fight Marquez.

"Hirap na ako sa timbang," he said. "Sobra na ang-reduce ko kung babalik ako sa featherweight. Dito na ako sa junior lightweight."

Besides, Pacquiao said Marquez isn’t a pay-per-view fighter unlike Morales or Barrera.

Pacquiao said he might have been too hasty in invading the junior lightweight or superfeatherweight class to take on Morales. However, the opportunity to fight in a pay-per-view main event was too good to pass up. It was speculated that because Morales had grown to become a legitimate junior lightweight and Pacquiao’s body was just getting used to the added weight, the Mexican could withstand the Filipino’s usually devastating power.

Still, Pacquiao nearly decked Morales in the 12th round of their duel last month.

Pacquiao will figure in a tune-up bout in July so his body is more accustomed to the extra poundage in the superfeatherweight class. Then, he hopes to battle Morales in a rematch late this year.

Asencio disclosed that after the Morales fight, Pacquiao was brought to the hospital for doctors to sew up the cut over his right eye. It took 15 stitches to close the wound. At first, plastic surgery was suggested in case the scar had to be patched up. But the option was dismissed after a few days when it became apparent the wound was healing properly.

Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee, Asencio and his wife Yvonne, manager Shelly Finkel, lawyer Keith Davidson and trainer Freddie Roach accompanied the fighter to the hospital. There was no sign of anyone from estranged New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad’s camp.

In the hospital, Pacquiao wept unabashedly. He repeatedly sought assurance from his wife that he didn’t let his countrymen down.

"Babe, binigay ko ang lahat, ‘di ba?" Pacquiao asked his wife as he waited for doctors to treat him. "Hindi lang talaga ako makakita dahil sa sugat ko. Hindi ko naman pinahiya ang kababayan natin."

Pacquiao was assured by his wife and the others in the hospital that he had nothing to be ashamed of and his countrymen should be proud of his courageous effort.

After his cut was sewn up, Muhammad sent a limousine to bring Pacquiao to a bar where he hosted a "victory" party. Pacquiao was advised by his companions in the hospital to take a rain check. He was battered and bruised and in no mood to party. But he forced himself to go anyway if only for the sake of the fans who were gathered at Café Moda.

When Pacquiao arrived, he was asked to sing and dance. Pacquiao excused himself after a few minutes to rest in his hotel room.

Pacquiao and Asencio left Manila for Los Angeles last night to hook up with Finkel in mapping out plans for the future. Pacquiao said they will be gone only a few days.