By Hermie Rivera

These days, we find Manny Pacquiao resting from a failed political bid but come Oct. 6, millions of boxing fans will feast on a sure-fire slugfest with Marco Antonio Barrera.

While Barrera has grown a tad wiser than usual, his rout by Pacquiao at San Antonio’s Alamodome (11TH rd KO) has observers ruling out an upset in the rematch at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Memories of that meeting, tough one to ignore” says the baby-faced assassin as he gears up for his climb to respectability.

Barrera has started training while Pacquiao has started shooting a film.

With Barrera’s headstart, who do think gets assassinated? The Pacman? Or will lefty Manny go back to his well of powerful deliveries to bomb sillier the transplanted Guadalajaran?

Methinks he will without a doubt.

Jorge Solis, the last Mexican Manny smashed (8th round ko) cautions his compatriot not to stay stationary and allow Manny to get off with his hefty shots. Calls Pacquiao’s speed special, adding that Marco will stay upright for as long as he can sneak in his solid licks. .

Barrera, honored by his selection as Pacquiao’s opponent is not throwing away the privilege of redeeming himself from that Texas fiasco.

It took him almost four years to get the rematch, winning all of his matches since that Lone Star debacle to include the World Boxing Council super-featherweight crown which was stolen on March 15 by Juan Manuel Marquez. Thanks in large measure to the inept-judging by the arbiters abeted by a sight-impaired referee.

It is therefore crucial for Marco to stay unbeaten since another cataclysmal outing will end his colorful career.

It will be a violent contact between two of boxing’s finest with both warriors capable of ending it early once they spot an opening for their blasters.

Their styles excites. A collision of true belters that’s likely to conclude in a knockout.

This means the judges will not figure at all in deciding who wins it. Good.

So then, is it going to be a walk in the park for Manny? “Not so” says Marco’s backers. “There’s no one at the fight scene who can infuse drama and excitement better than our man.”

Indeed, it was dramatic and exciting watching Marco drop to the canvas like an uncontrolled yoyo in his first encounter with the Cotabato marvel.

With Manny’s cool demeanor bordering on savagery when needed, expect an excellent swaps of truculent wallops with our man getting the better of the exchanges.

The country’s pride is not thinking at all of a loss in the rematch.

He views a setback unacceptable while a repeat win will accentuate his popularity that could bolster his chances for another stab at politics.

This is not just about a fight of Manny Pacquiao, our slugging icon who stands to bag “tons of greens” in his return go with Barrera.

It is about what lies ahead for the Philippines’ preeminent unifier–a clear path to consummate stardom.

Awesome!