Pacquiao-Barrera Round 4

AFTER an idle minute at the start of the fourth round, both fighters started mixing it up under the two-mintue mark in an exchange that got the crowd roaring.

Pacquiao finally started hitting with the right jab but Barrera still managing to exhibit terrific counter-punching.

Barrera's defensive game pland is also starting to unveil itself, with the Mexican veering to Pacquiao's right to stay away from the left straight, but Pacquiao remedies the situation by launching his new weapon, a strong right jab that found its mark.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Pacquiao-Barrera Round 3

Manny Pacquiao finally unleashes his pet left straight, finding its target in Marco Antonio Barrera's face in the middle of the round.

But Barrera, again flaunting counter-punching skills, managed to fire his own signature right straight, forcing the Filipino to backpedal a little bit.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Pacquiao-Barrera Round 2

MARCO Antonio Barrera showed perfect counter-punching in Round 2, tagging Manny pacquiao with several jab-straight combinations to the head. Pacquiao still was unable to find his range with Barrera utilizing the ring to stay out of the way of the Filipino's right jabs. Pacquiao still got a few combinations in during the last 10 seconds in a mini brawl towards the end of the round.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Pacquiao-Barrera Round 1

MANNY Pacquiao went inside Marco Antonio Barrera's defense under the final minute of the first round with a frenzy of combinations that however failed to rock the Mexican icon.

But it was the highlight of the opening round that saw both fighters just feeling each other out.

Barrera tried a few counter attacks that did not find their mark just yet.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Pacquiao-Barrera opening ceremonies and introductions

ROUND one of the highly anticipated rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera, the main event of the Will to Win card, got underway at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

Pop singer Kyla sang the Philippine National Anthem, one of three anthems sang during pre-fight introductions. A Mexican recording artist and a Las Vegas entertainer belted out the anthems of Mexico and United States, respectively.

First to make his way into the ring after a montage of film highlights of his previous bout and amid strains of a Mexican folk song was Barrera.

Pacquiao entered the arena next with a cut from his album as background music, also preceded by video highlights of his previous bouts.

Popular ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced both fighters and uttered his patented "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" line before referee Tony Meeks repeated his final instructions right before the opening bell sounded.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Leuvano retains WBO featherweight crown

STEVEN Leuvano floored Antonio "T-Rex" Davis at the bell of the 11th round and held on to win an overwhelming unanimous decision and keep his World Boxing Organization featherweight crown at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Leuvano, throwing right jabs to counter a barrage from Davis, threw a well-timed cross that sent the American to the floor in the match that served as the second main event of the Will to Win card.

Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera, who fight in the main event, received their instructions from referee Tony Meeks inside their locker rooms while the Davis-Leuvano fight was going on.

The Mexican and Filipino crowds began chanting the names of Pacquiao and Barrera late in the 10th round of the featherweight title match.

Leuvano opened a cut above Davis' left eye in the first round after a series of spear-like right jabs and continued to work on the wound throughout the fight, forcing the ringside physician to twice look at the wound in the ninth round before allowing the fight to go on.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Andrade flattens 'Mack Attack'

MEXICAN Librado Andrade got up from a first-round knockdown and wore out Tusaf Mack before knocking him out in the 7th round to win the United States Boxing Association super middleweight belt at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Andrade had Mack on his knees thrice in the seventh round, the last time at the 2:34 mark of the seventh through a series of body shots, when referee Jay Nady stepped in and waved the bout off.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Forbes wins by split decision

FORMER super featherweight champion Steve Forbes, finding the range on his uppercuts in the middle rounds, won a split decision over Panchito Bojado in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Barrera Will to Win event at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

Cheers broke out as Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and his rival Marco Antonio Barrera arrived at the fight venue in the middle of the Forbes-Bojado welterweight showdown, just before 6 p.m. Las Vegas time.

Posted by : francis ochoa

Unanimous decision for Escobedo

Vicente Escobedo won via unanimous decision in the junior lightweight division undercard match at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Posted by : INQUIRER.net

Filipino wins undercard match

Filipino boxer Michael Farenas won via knockout on the 59th second of Round 2 in the undercard match of the Pacquiao-Barrera fight at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Farenas defeated Arturo Valenzuela of Mexico.

Posted by : INQUIRER.net