Fight fans crave for Pacman-Barrera tiff

A rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera is still a fight many fans would like to see. And if everything falls into place, Pacquiao and Barrera will end up locking horns anew.

"That is still an attractive fight," said Top Rank chief Bob Arum on the prospects of matching the two this year.

In fact, Barrera is even reportedly attending Pacquiao’s bout against Jorge Solis of Mexico on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Although Barrera lost to Juan Manuel Marquez last month on points, Arum believes Barrera, who suffered a savage 11th round knockout to Pacquiao in 2003, still has a huge following.

"Marquez doesn’t have a fan base," said Arum, noting that "Marquez is an anti-draw."

"We use to promote him and we would put on a show in a ballroom that has 3,000 seats and we could not fill them," said Arum, who once had Marquez under his promotional outfit before the Mexican signed up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).

Arum also revealed that the camp of another marquee name in the superfeatherweight category, Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic, has sent word that it is also interested in seeing the undefeated Guzman rumble with Pacquiao.

Arum said Sycuan Promotions has a say in Guzman’s affairs even though he is promoted by GBP.

Top Rank had wanted to get Barrera for a Pacquiao rematch but Barrera turned down what Top Rank said was an attractive offer and opted to fight Marquez instead.

There is no definite timetable yet on Pacquiao’s fight after Solis since the Filipino icon has to go back to the Philippines and concentrate on his political bid as he is running for congressman in the first district of South Cotabato on May 14.

"It would all depend on the (result of the) elections," said Arum during a recent visit to the Wild Card.