Thursday, October 4, 2007

Manny Pacquiao And Marco Antonio Barrera Rematch (Oct. 6, 2007)


By Matthew Hurley, photo by Naoki Fukuda : With all the so-called “distractions” surrounding Manny Pacquiao many in the Marco Antonio Barrera fan base are hoping that the “Pac Man” enters his bout against the “Baby Faced Assassin” this Saturday night at the Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas unfocused and unprepared for a very prepared Barrera. The problem with that notion is that this isn’t the Barrera who tore apart Prince Naseem Hamed in April of 2001 as a huge betting underdog. This Barrera probably won’t be any better than the one who lost to Juan Manuel Marquez by decision in March of this year – albeit a very close decision..

Successive bouts take a toll on fighters. One of the toughest fighters to ever step into the ring, Erik Morales, who fought both fighters three times, commented after his final bout against David Diaz that “I really felt the punches this time.” He was remarking, almost incredulously, that punches that hit him before, be they a jab or the vicious Barrera uppercut in round two that broke his hawk-like nose in their third classic fight, never bothered him. At least to the extent that they do now. One ridiculous war after another had extracted a noticeable toll on the “Tijuana Tornado” and he finally understood that he had nothing left to prove. No fan wanted to see this first ballot Hall of Famer get hurt because he had given them too much.

Barrera, whether he likes it or not (and he would obviously hate the comparison because he and Morales can’t stand each other) is in exactly the same position that “El Terrible” was in his third bout with Manny Pacquiao. He is going up against a younger, faster and stronger fighter. In boxing technique Barrera is the better overall fighter. But styles make fights and Pacquiao’s whirlwind attack will be too much for the proud Mexican icon. Not only that, Pacquiao is a better fighter than he was back in 2003. He has rounded out his game, adding a vicious body attack to his craft and a much improved right hand. He is a complete fighter now, one who thrives on aggression and, yes, distractions. All these alleged distractions only add fuel to the fire for Manny Pacquiao. He may lose focus for a bit against a lesser opponent like his most recent target Jorge Solis, but not when it comes to a legend like Marco Antonio Barrera. Proof of that was visible in a recent open training session for reporters. He looks as fast and formidable as ever.

Barrera has immense pride and this is the fight he truly wants. Make no mistake, he was off his game in the first bout but he has deteriorated physically since then, as all great athletes do as they age, where the fresher Pacquiao is at his very peak. Barrera, because of his toughness will keep it competitive for the first several rounds, but Pacquiao’s relentless aggression will break him down and finally bring an end to one of the best boxing careers of the last two decades.

Kid Rock Calls Pamela Anderson A Big Fat Liar

What is it about these Hollywood natures that they can’t just split up and close up? Take exes Kid Rock and Pam Anderson, their mouths are open and they only have great obsessions to say about each other. In the newest talk with Kid Rock in Rolling Stone, he bounds true into a sensitive subject with no an little of discretion. Here’s his story of the time Pamela Anderson got pissed when he abandoned her (shooting in Vancouver) for a Lakers game: “I’m like, ‘Baby, I got these tickets. I’ll see you on the weekend there,’ and that leads into her saying, ‘You don’t care about me, blah blah blah.’ She finally comes up with this: ‘I just had a miscarriage’ and hangs the phone up.”

Kid Rock goes on to aspect what happening when he finally got to Canada to see his lady, saying, “She’s celebrations at this restaurant, drinking champagne, bounding on the tables. I’m thinking, ‘That’s a fast recuperation from a miscarriage.’”

Pamela’s publicist did verify back then that the actress had experienced a miscarriage, but even if she through it all up, shouldn’t the guy just stay it to himself and his diary? Pamela Anderson has requested that, “If he has not anything nice to say regarding me, then please tell him to stop discussing about me.”

Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz Are Very Hot



We staggered on Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz very hot and worried, falling around together on the lawn in Central Park on Tuesday. While both drew from the scenes for their film What Happens In Vegas, they sure looked at as they made more than acting! We have surprised a person on the scene say, “if I were Demi Moore, I would be bothered”. (But the three were together the front night outside, returning a play of the football of New York Giants.) In any event, Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz are apparently of enormous actors, because they truly seemed, truly in desire.

Cameron Diaz ironically punished film are used as team-member on forcing the adaptors of the physically demanding scene. “You are under umbrellas and in the tents over there, I am outside here in the hot sun. Let us make another catch!” It teased. The attentions of Ashton Kutcher must have strengthening effects: in spite of the many recoveries and hot time, Cameron Diaz seemed to overflow with energy; between the scenes, it made handstands!