Friday, June 18, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ayala, Barrera put careers on line

Once noted fighters look to regain acclaim

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Featherweights Paulie Ayala, left, and Marco Antonio Barrera look to re-establish themselves Saturday night in Los Angeles. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

There is no title at stake. There is no battle for recognition as the pound-for-pound best.

There is little acclaim at stake for Paulie Ayala and Marco Antonio Barrera in their featherweight fight Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles -- well, except for:

"Our careers are on the line, I guess you could say," Ayala noted.

Both fighters are coming off one-sided losses. Ayala, 34, suffered a beating in a lopsided decision to Erik Morales at Mandalay Bay on Nov. 16, 2002. He has fought only once since, against a nondescript opponent. Barrera, 30, was unexpectedly routed his last time out, when he was stopped in the 11th round by Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 15.

Knowing what is ultimately at stake makes the bout, which will be televised as part of HBO's "Boxing After Dark" series, more significant than any championship belt. Barrera (57-4, 40 KOs) promises he'll be the Barrera of old.

Prior to the Pacquiao fight, Barrera carried the moniker, "The King of the Featherweights," and was regarded by most experts as one of boxing's three finest fighters. He took a lot of distractions with him into the ring that night -- he trained as the California wildfires threatened his camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., and he was under intense scrutiny after his 1997 brain surgery become public knowledge -- and was hardly the man who had built a reputation as an all-time great.

"I guess those things could have had an effect, but I don't even like to talk about it," Barrera said. "That's over. I'm a better fighter than I showed against (Pacquiao). I promise you that. Just watch and you'll see."

Ayala (35-2, 12 KOs) is clearly expecting the best Barrera. He was ringside in San Antonio for Barrera's stunning loss to Pacquiao and said it was obvious Barrera had things on his mind other than Pacquiao.

But after eight months away, Ayala knows he needs to be prepared for the Barrera that reeled off impressive wins over the likes of Morales, Johnny Tapia and Kevin Kelley.

"You could see by watching him, his head wasn't into it," Ayala said. "He knows what's riding on this one and a great champion like him isn't going to just go through the motions. But then again, neither am I. I'm excited by the chance. It's been awhile and I'm ready for it."

Ayala is not a big puncher, particularly at featherweight. He spent most of his career at bantamweight but moved up to super bantamweight before becoming a featherweight.

Still, he has no fear of going toe-to-toe and banging with the powerful Barrera.

"I'm going to try to be smart and pick my shots, but if he pushes me into a corner, of course I'm going to fight him," Ayala said. "That's just my natural instinct. I'll let (my hands) go. But I'm going to try to create openings and make something happen and I'll definitely test him."

Ayala said he long has dreamed of a fight with Barrera. Ayala's wife's maiden name is Barrera, and Ayala always joked with her that it would be fun to wear a Barrera-Ayala T-shirt. Now he has one for real, but he knows it carries plenty of significance.

"Neither one of us really can afford a loss," Ayala said. "There's a lot riding on it, so both of us should be hungry and at our best. I'll tell you what, even though there is some pressure, it's going to be a lot of fun."