posted on Oct, 30 2003 @ 01:19 PM
The future of the best featherweight on the planet is open to question after the extraordinary revelations this week that Marco Antonio Barrera
underwent brain surgery six years ago and has been fighting with a metal plate in his head ever since.
The story, unearthed by acclaimed boxing writer Thomas Hauser for secondsout.com, has grave implications for the Mexican fighter's future.
The plate in Barrera's head makes it difficult - and some suggest impossible - for him to take, let alone pass, an MRI scan, which is now a mandatory
requirement in major boxing venues such as Las Vegas, New York and indeed Britain.
Barrera's next fight is scheduled against Manny Pacquiao in San Antonio, Texas next month. Coincidentally or otherwise, Texas does not require
mandatory MRI scans for the fighters it licences.
Barrera's problem exposes more unashamed greed and rule-dodging in a sport where a boxer's life appears of secondary importance to the lure of the
almighty dollar.
Hauser reported that Barrera underwent surgery known as a craniotomy following a bout with Junior Jones. The surgery was related to a congenital
defect, not as a result of the fight itself.
A number of powerful high-profile promoters and managers vociferously objected to the implementation of the requirement which is designed to save
lives.