Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006 | 8:16 a.m.
The principals
Marco Antonio Barrera (62-4, 42 KOs) vs. Rocky Juarez (25-2, 18 KOs)
Time/site
Today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Doors open 3 p.m., pay-per-view telecast begins 6 p.m., main event approximately 8 p.m.
At stake
Barrera's WBC super featherweight title
Betting line
Barrera -150, Juarez +130; will go 12 full rounds -220, won't go 12 full rounds +180
co-features
Israel Vazquez (40-3, 29 KOs) vs. Jhonny Gonzalez (33-4, 28 KOs), WBC super bantamweight championship; Jorge Rodrigo Barrios (46-2-1, 33 KOs) vs. Joan Guzman (25-0, 17 KOs), WBO junior lightweight championship
Tickets
$75-$350; 474-4000, ticketmaster.com
TV
HBO Pay-Per-View ($44.95)
Undercard
Jorge Paez Jr. (10-0, 7 KOs) vs. Derrick Campos (6-2, 5 KOs), four rounds, lightweights, plus six other bouts
Photo finish
A rematch between Barrera and Juarez was inevitable given the way their first fight ended in May. After 12 action-filled rounds at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the decision was announced as a draw. About a half-hour later, Juarez was told one of the judges' scorecards had been graded incorrectly and that Barrera had won a split decision. "It was very disappointing to me," Juarez said. "But I'm a fighter and my job is to go out there and fight and perform. So I left that (dealing with the controversy) to my promoters and my manager."
Foul play?
Juarez did suggest that Barrera, as one of the stars of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions company, was given the benefit of any doubt in the scoring the first time - especially considering the fight took place in De La Hoya's hometown. "If anything, De La Hoya's going to try to get his hands into the cookie jar (again)," Juarez said. "Being in Las Vegas ... people are going to be watching more closely on the decision, if they go to decision, and try to make it equal for both fighters."
Neutral ground
Barrera also professed satisfaction with the site of the rematch, declaring he wants "no excuses" after tonight's fight regardless of the outcome. In prefight interviews, Barrera has summarily dismissed reports that he was ill in training camp last time, that he underestimated Juarez, and that a new mouthpiece led to breathing problems in the bout. "Marco feels the same way Rocky feels," De La Hoya said. "He's glad it's on neutral ground. He doesn't want any excuses whatsoever this time."
Style matchup
A future Hall of Famer and legendary figure in Mexican sports, Barrera has been fighting professionally for 17 of his 32 years. The central question in tonight's showdown is whether he can still harness enough horsepower to subdue 26-year-old Juarez, a 2000 U.S. Olympian from Houston. Juarez acknowledged he started too slowly last time. He'll work to prevent the champ from stealing the early rounds. Barrera's goal will be to control the tempo with his jab. "Whether it's Marco Antonio Barrera or any other champion out there, or any other fighter, it's the prize that's at stake I'm actually fighting for, to become world champion," Juarez said.
Complete card
In one of two co-featured bouts leading to the main event, WBO junior lightweight champ Jorge Rodrigo Barrios risks his belt against unbeaten and talented Joan Guzman. The winner will become a top candidate to face the winner of Barrera vs. Juarez. In the other co-feature, Israel Vazquez puts his WBC super bantamweight title on the line against Jhonny Gonzalez. De La Hoya called that bout a fight-of-the-year contender because of the fighters' relentless, hard-punching styles.
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