Barrera dying to avenge loss to Pacquiao

If Marco Antonio Barrera is indeed afraid of Manny Pacquiao, well at least the Mexican world champion doesn’t sound like it.

The World Boxing Council super featherweight king is in fact looking forward for the chance to face Pacquiao and avenge a painful loss in 2003.

Barrera, who had avoided crossing paths with the Filipino banger since he became champion, made noise last week when he called for a rematch.

"It’s always been something on my mind. It is something I feel obligated – to give the people this fight, and it looks like it’s getting closer," said Barrera.

In an interview with Brad Cooney of boxingtalk.com the other day, the 32-year-old Barrera didn’t show any signs that he’s afraid of Pacquiao.

Then he vowed to give the left-handed Filipino a fight much better than that of Nov. 15, 2003 when Pacquiao knocked him out in the 11th round in San Antonio.

"He didn’t see the best of me last time. Rest assured that he will see the best of me this time," said Barrera, who has defended the 130 lb title twice since 2004.

Reports said Pacquiao has seven days to formally respond to the Barrera challenge than just say that he believes that the Mexican champ is "afraid of me."

Barrera said it was unfortunate for him and boxing fans that a rematch with Pacquiao, which is now being talked about, had to wait this long.

"We have had a career that has paralleled to his for the last three years. He (Pacquiao) became a big star, a big name in boxing and everybody wanted to fight him.

"(So) it was due to conflicting schedules. First he had the rematch with Eric Morales, and now they are talking about a third fight," Barrera said.

Since he dared Pacquiao to a rematch last Tuesday, Pacquiao has kept his eyes glued somewhere else, like a scheduled 10-round, non-title fight in Manila this June or July, and a third match with Erik Morales by September.

Pacquiao is flying to the US next week to finalize details of his next fight, and hopefully find someone willing to fight him, and get hurt in the process.

Oscar Larios, the first choice, reportedly backed off after HBO (Home Box Office) did the same, citing the current political situation in the country as the reason.

A couple of names have cropped up as Larios’ replacement although chances remain that the former 122 lb champion would still decide in fighting Pacquiao.

It was reported by someone close to Pacquiao that Larios was asking too much for the fight – $450,000 when it was expected that he’d be happy with no more than $250,000.

Pacquiao fans have continued to call for Barrera’s name, saying it’s about time that Pacquiao took the clear shot at being the world super featherweight king.

Most of them feel that Pacquiao should drop his plans of fighting Larios and instead set up an immediate rematch with Barrera.

To them, Barrera has this short message.

"To the Philippine fans, I want to send them a special hello, and I want to tell them that Manny Pacquiao is a great champion, and hopefully in the near future we will have the second fight with Manny Pacquiao," he told boxingtalk.com.