At Featherweight, how goes this clash of legends? I think maybe the Professor takes this one by tight decision.
A very tricky one as Manny passed through FW briefly while Azumah was an established champ at the weight. Barrera was fairly shopworn by the time Manny got to him and of course Marquez held him to the controversial draw so you can image a peak Nelson, who is only just a notch below Marco Antonio and Juan Manuel P4P, giving him a titanic struggle. I don't see him putting Nelson down but I imagine Manny could out speed him as Fenech did (albeit against an allegedly ill Nelson) and win a narrow points decision. However only a fool would count the Professor out whose only losses while peak where to ATGs Sanchez and Whitaker.
How was Barrera shopworn when Pacquiao beat him ? Barrera was P4P number 3, and had a string of impressive performances/wins over top fighters. No one at the time was saying Barrera was shopworn, infact I would say he was actually near his peak.
True but there was no real evidence of Barrera slipping at that point, he'd had a string of very impressive performances and was ranked highly P4P. I think Barrera was just shocked how good/fast Pacquiao was, remember this Pacquiao's coming out party. We knew he was talented but we didn't know he was quite "that good" until Pacquiao destroyed Barrera. I think it was just a case of Pacquiao being a bad style match for him.
I would lean towards the Professor in this one. More established at 126 and far rougher. And I would take AN over MAB at 126 as well. Just a tougher guy
