Doghouse Decides; Marco Antonio Barrera vs Juan Manuel Marquez
 Compiled by Benny Henderson Jr (March 17, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © German Villasenor)
Tonight, live on HBO Pay-Per-View 9 PM ET/6 PM PT two Mexico City warriors meet in a super featherweight championship clash when the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ Marco Antonio Barrera 63-4 (42) defends his WBC super featherweight strap against ‘Dinamita’ Juan Manuel Marquez 46-3-1 (35) in a highly anticipated 130-pound clash.
With both ring warriors known for their blood and guts ring wars this is expected to be a barnburner of a brawl. Can Marquez bring down the powerhouse known as Barrera, or will the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ take out another
unsuspecting victim? Tune it to find out, for now see what the scribes here at the Doghouse had to say on this championship match-up.
Nate Edwards: While I really feel this fight would have been at its very peak over 3 years ago I still feel like this is a fight between two Mexican Fighting Legends and its better late then never. I feel as though Marquez is the overall better boxer between Barrera and himself. Marquez has the edge in speed, counter punching, making in ring adjustments and I also believe he has just as much power as Barrera. I also feel Barrera has been through far more physical wars then Marquez has and while they are the same age Marquez is far less worn. I see this being a great fight between two great Mexican warriors but I feel in the end it will be Marquez winning clearly and decisively finally lifting him out of the shadow of Barrera and Morales. Juan Manuel Marquez by UD
Julian Kasdin: Barrera vs. Marquez is a long overdue battle of two great Mexican warriors. Both are skilled tacticians who have established themselves as elite fighters by winning titles in multiple weight classes. Barrera has had his ups and downs as of late, the loss to Pacquiao and a razor thin win over Rocky Juarez have been mixed in with a dominating win over the same Juarez and wins over Mzonke Fana, Erik Morales, Paulie Ayala and Robbie Peden.
Marquez, like Barrera, has had his ups and downs. Drawing with Pacquiao then losing to Chris John, and finally winning over tough Thai Terdsak Jandaeng and Jimrex Jaca. Marquez needs this win more than Barrera though. Ever since the fight against Pacquiao he has squandered opportunity by turning down a rematch and fighting overseas only to lose his title on a non-televised bout.
I think Marquez has more to gain and lose in this fight, as Barrera is already a legend. Barrera has also shown some signs of slipping, and unlike Juarez, Marquez is a quick hard-hitting tactician with a lot of power and an ability to throw leather. I think Marquez will be too fast and skilled, plus too powerful for the aging Barrera and I see him winning by decision or possibly late round stoppage.
Ian Keogh: Both Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez will be looking for the luck of the Irish this Saturday as the two proud Mexican warriors finally face off after years of anticipation. This fight to me is truly a pick 'em contest. Neither guy is in his prime but both are still very good. Barrera has the big fight experience and the marquee name but Marquez to me has the better skills. I guess it comes down to which Barrera shows up. If it's the all action brawler I expect Barrera to come out victorious based on Marquez's recent willingness to exchange power shots. Barrera has proved he can stand toe to toe and get the best of very good fighters. Marquez hasn't shown me the ability to do so to the extent Barrera has but he can definitely hold his own. If Barrera chooses to box and move then it really becomes a chess match. I favor Marquez in this type of a fight. My gut tells me that the proud warrior that Barrera is will get the best of him and this will turn into brawl. Give me Barrera by close decision.
Matthew DeGonzaque: In his most recent fight, Barrera ditched his blood and guts style for a more conservative style approach against Rocky Juarez and pitched a shutout. Marquez is on a whole different level than Juarez though and Barrera will have to be on his best to win. Marquez is a great counter fighter and I think he will win a split decision in a close fight... setting up a second fight.
Sean Newman: This fight is a toss-up as far as I’m concerned, but I’m leaning toward Marquez. Barrera has become more a technician in the last few years, and he’ll need to call on every ounce of boxing skill he can muster to keep up with Marquez. They are both excellent fighters, and the only real reason I’m picking Marquez by decision is that one must continue to wonder how many good fights Barrera has left in him.
Gabriel Montoya: This Saturday we say hello again to Juan Manuel Marquez as he returns to boxing's main stage and we say goodbye to Marco Antonio Barrera as he exits from PPV glory and heads down the road towards retirement. Marquez will take years of frustration, years of toiling in the shadows of obscurity and turn it into a masterpiece against the fading Barrera. Yes Barrera gave us a boxing clinic against the youthful but limited Rocky Juarez in their rematch late last year. . Yes he has beaten the best of his generation and fought in all manner of ways to defend his claim to the "Best Mexican Fighter of His Generation" throne. But no, he will not beat Marquez on this night. Marquez is a master technician who has less mileage on his body, has shown a willingness to brawl a bit if he needs to as of late, but still maintains the poise of an elite boxer. Barrera cannot win any more brutal wars in my opinion. He showed that in the first Juarez fight when he barely pulled out the disputed split decision by getting on his bicycle and boxing for his life. His only chance here is to out box the master boxer and I don't feel he is up to it at this stage of his career. Hunger counts for everything in this sport and thusly this will be Marquez’ time to shine. The fight will be nip and tuck for the first 3 -5 rounds and then Marquez will take over. Marquez by wide UD or late stoppage.
Vikram Birring: This is a match up that hardcore fans of the sport of boxing have been savoring for quite some time. Two fine boxers from Mexico City are finally meeting up, one in the last chapter of his career, the other wanting redemption for missed opportunities. Marquez is an excellent counter puncher but Barrera has been in with the better competition and tends to rise for this type of occasion. This will most likely be more of a chess match than a fight, but expect Barrera to win this based on experience and ring intelligence.
Benny Henderson Jr.: This is one heck of a match-up in my book, you look up the word ‘bad-ass’ in the dictionary and you’ll see a couple of photos of these cats. Both have proven to be warriors and have taken their place in the history of boxing, but forget the future, we talking about now! Well, I am leaning more towards Marquez in this throw down; he seems to have less mileage without the wear and tear, add in some skill and the faster fists and you have yourself winner. Marquez wins a thriller via split decision to add to the interest of a rematch. Can you deuce?
Anthony Cocks: Give me Marquez for no particular reason other than he seems the fresher fighter with more to lose if he comes up short.
Coyote Duran: If there is one thing I can complain about regarding Saturday's match-up between WBC 130-pound titleholder Marco Antonio Barrera and former longtime featherweight standout Juan Manuel Marquez (and there ain't much to complain about) it's that this fight didn't happen between 2003 and 2005. OK, that being said, it's my only complaint. I'll STILL take this fight because if Manny Pacquiao-Marquez was any indication of what fireworks are in store for us on Saturday, then we are in for a fabulous, fabulous treat, Howlers!
That also being said, kids, I'm certainly not looking for any knockout in the end because if there's one thing we know about these gentlemen, it's that against the elite of the elite, the knockouts have indeed left the building. However, when it's time to turn it up with Barrera and Marquez, it's time to turn it up. Marquez' motivation in beating Barrera is his own brother Rafael's success in dethroning former World Junior Featherweight Champion Israel Vazquez recently and after his most recent loss against Chris John, Juan Manuel really has nothing at all to lose and the world to gain by stepping into the 130-pound ratings in a major, major way. Barrera needs this win if he wants to keep his # 1 ranking in The Ring Magazine's junior lightweight ratings and if he ever wants to enter a ring against Manny Pacquiao again to determine who the one true champion at junior lightweight really is. This fight is the key to both mens' future successes, regardless of how soon those potential successes were to come to an end due to retirement (more likely for Barrera than Marquez).
Luke-warm start? Maybe. In a fight this potentially explosive and busy, there's bound to be one, at least in the first round but throughout, look for a very defensive-minded Barrera to take Marquez to the 12th and final round just barely and if I may be so brave, I'd like to say that this fight for junior lightweight supremacy will end in a split decision in favor of the older-yet-wiser Marco Antonio Barrera.
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