Manny Pacquiao celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Marco Antonio Barrera.*

There was no repeat of the smashing knockout win four years ago but Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao's superior punching power and quickness once again proved too much for Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera yesterday.

Bridging the very thin line of fighting aggressively and cautiously in style, Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision victory over the retirement-bound Mexican in their WBC International super-featherweight title fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

A cheap shot --- a wicked right hook to Pacquiao's forehead --- just as referee Tony Weeks was breaking up the two fighters in the 11th round summed up Barrera's frustrating evening.

Victory buoys nation's
spirit, Arroyo says
BY NIDA BUENAFE

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led Filipinos in hailing yet another victory by ring idol Manny Pacquiao, who successfully defended his World Boxing Council international super featherweight title by unanimous decision against Mexican Marco Barrera in Las Vegas yesterday.

Negrenses also joined in celebrating Pacquiao's triumph, which Arroyo called a "well-deserved victory". In a statement, Arroyo said Pacquiao once again buoyed the nation's spirit with his excellent fighting form and indomitable spirit.

Our "Pambansang Kamao" is the Philippines gift to the world of boxing, she said.

Las Vegas fight sidelights
BY NINFA R. LEONARDIA

Once again traffic disappeared from the streets in Bacolod and probably in most other places in the country reached by TV yesterday, when the Mandalay Bay Hotel provided the setting for the much-expected "Will to Win" fight, or rematch, between the country's boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, and Mexico's has-been champion Marco Antonio Barrera. Hotels and restos where live TV showing of the bout was offered drew big crowds at noon yesterday.

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But, as Bacolod resident and newly arrived from Spain, Julito Jimenez, summed it up: "It's PACMAN as predicted. It's a 33-year-old against a 28-year-old man. It was a lousy fight with Barrera avoiding Pacquiao's punch." His view was echoed by many others who watched the match at first anxiously, and later impatiently when it began to look as if the "new tactics" and "strategies" bragged about by the Barrera camp turned out to be only a plan to keep away from the blows of Manny.