Barrera Easily Beats Peden

LAS VEGAS, NV - Marco Antonio Barrera won a unanimous 12-round decision over Robbie Peden in a unification clash of super-featherweight champions here Saturday.

Judges gave Barrera the victory over Peden by scores of 118-109, 118-108 and 118-108, the Mexican legend adding Peden's International Boxing Federation crown to the World Boxing Council title he owned entering the showdown.

Barrera rose to 60-4 while Peden fell to 25-3. The Aussie had won five fights in a row over the past three years but was picked apart in a tactical performance by the Mexican.

Peden broke one of Barrera's ribs when he served as the Mexican's sparring partner in 2002, but Barrera inflicted the most punishment when it mattered most.

"I didn't learn anything special in the gym (with Peden)," Barrera said. "Things are different in the ring. I used ability and a lot of speed. I knew he would come out fast but we had good boxing and good movement and I prevailed."

Referee Richard Steele deducted a point from Barrera in the 10th round after the Mexican landed a left to the waistband of Peden's shorts.

Barrera responded by keeping the Aussie at bay the rest of the way, landing several flurries in the final round to seal the victory, Peden unable to match the Mexican's speed and skills in the final minutes.

Barrera, 31, was patient early, adjusting to Peden's unconventional lower left hand position and bouncing movements while landing more punches and adopting a stationary style.

Peden, 31, took a series of solid rights to the head but answered by opening a cut near Barrera's left eye in round four, the Aussie to dictating tempo for the first time.

Peden could not get inside the Mexican's jab, unable to land combinations or press the attack to test Barrera into the later rounds. Barrera punched off the break twice in the later rounds, arousing Peden's wrath but no hotter response.

Barrera, a pro fighter more than half his life, won his title with a majority decision over Mexico's Erik Morales last November and defended the crown last April by beating South African Mzonke Fana.

Peden, only the second Aboriginal world champion in 34 years, won his crown last February by stopping American Nate Campbell in the eighth round.

The "Brisbane Bomber" is the son of a Scottish father and Aboriginal mother. He fought for Australia in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Potential future foes for Barrera include Mexican lightweight champion Jesus Chavez and the winner of a possible January fight between Morales and Filipino puncher Manny Pacquiao.

Barrera is 2-1 against Morales but Pacquiao stopped him in 2003.

To become an undisputed champion, Barrera must dethrone Panama's Vicente Mosquera, the World Boxing Association champion who is 21-1 with one drawn and 10 knockouts.

Sonny Banerjee
Editor-in-chief

Information from other publications and wire services was used in the compilation of this report.