BARRERA LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING ON HOLIDAY.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

Marco Antonio Barrera, has never fought on Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day, during his long, illustrious career.

He'll come close when he fights Robbie Peden on Sept. 17.

``I am training extremely hard for this fight as it would mean everything to unify the championship for all of Mexico on Mexican Independence Day,'' Barrera, of Mexico City, said last week from his training camp in Guadalajara, Mexico.

``I feel like a young prospect again with so much motivation to win this fight. It's a great feeling. This will be the first time I have the chance to fight on Mexican Independence Day. I know in the past, only fighters like Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya have fought on this date, so it is an honor for me to follow in their steps.

``I think it is a testament to all that I have accomplished in my career.''

Barrera, 31, twice before had fought on Sept. 14, two days before the Mexican holiday. (For the record, Chavez has fought on Mexican Independence Day; De La Hoya has not, though he's come close several times.)

Barrera, 60-4 with 42 knockouts, has held world titles in three weight classes. The World Boxing Council super featherweight champion will put his belt on the line against Peden, the International Boxing Federation champion.

The title unification fight, from MGM Grand in Las Vegas, will be available on HBO pay-per-view.

Peden, of Brisbane, Australia, is no pushover. He is 25-2 with 14 knockouts and has faced stiff competition. He won the vacant IBF belt last Feb. 23 with an eighth-round technical knockout of Nate Campbell.

Peden's toughest opponent has been Juan Manuel Marquez, the current IBF and World Boxing Association featherweight champion. Peden and Marquez, on March 9, 2002, fought for a couple of regional featherweight belts, and Marquez stopped Peden in the 10th round.

No shame there. Marquez was already a tremendous fighter.

Peden, 31, is training in St. Petersberg, Fla. He, too, spoke last week after a workout.

``This camp, I've been more focused and intense since winning the title,'' Peden said. ``My trainer, Roger Bloodworth, says I'm stronger and hungrier than he's ever seen me.''

He better be, or Barrera will dispatch Peden quicker than Marquez did.

``Hey, I've got respect for Barrera in and out of the ring,'' Peden said. ``But leading into the fight he will be my worst enemy. It won't be a hate, but anyone that tries to take anything from me becomes my enemy.

``Barrera keeps talking about his Mexican heart; come the 17th, people will be talking about my Australian heart.''

Golden Boy Promotions is co-promoting along with Goossen Tutor Promotions.

--Rodriguez in action: Jesus Rodriguez will fight this week at the 20th Blue & Gold National Invitational, an amateur card that will run Thursday through Sunday in Baldwin Park. Rodriguez, 15, is co-trained by Hall of Famer Carlos Palomino out of the Jeopardy program in Van Nuys.

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