BOXING: ON MARCO: BARRERA WINS JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT BEATS JUAREZ AGAIN.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS -- Thanks goodness two of the three world championship fights on Saturday's card at MGM Grand were exciting.

Unfortunately, one of them was not the main event between Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez.

Barrera, in one of the most boring fights of his stellar career, retained his World Boxing Council super featherweight belt with a unanimous decision over Juarez. Hubert Minn scored Barrera the winner, 117-111, and Chuck Giampa and Dave Moretti favored the champion 115-113.

There was loud booing by the crowd of 10,000-plus at the Thomas & Mack Center in two thirds of the 12 rounds. Barrera apparently never had any intention of going toe-to-toe with Juarez, as he spent most of the fight moving from side to side, refusing to engage the more aggressive Juarez.

Even in the final round, Barrera did not want to get into a slugfest. He stuck his chin out at Juarez in the final 10 seconds as Juarez tried to make Barrera fight. Then, after the final bell, Juarez turned away from Barrera, then Barrera acted as if he was going to go after Juarez before referee Joe Cortez ushered Barrera to his corner.

It is doubtful Barrera has ever been involved in a fight that brought so much dissatisfaction to those in attendance.

Juarez, of Houston, Texas, was not happy. He lost a controversial split decision to Barrera on May 20 at Staples Center. He showed Barera plenty of power in that fight, which is probably why Barrera did not want to feel it again.

``I felt like I was the aggressor again,'' said Juarez, who was more aggressive, but did not land enough telling blows.''

Barrera, 32, is 63-4. He said he already know who he wants next.

``I am going to retire next year,'' he said. ``I want to spend time with my son. My next best fight would be against Manny Pacquiao. But I will fight anyone Oscar De La Hoya wants me to fight.''

Barrera is promoted by De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

Pacquiao will take on Erik Morales on Nov. 18 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Juarez, 26, is 25-3.

In the other title fights of the evening, Israel Vazquez got up from two knockdowns to stop Jhonny Gonzalez in the 10thround to retain his WBC super bantamweight belt in a semi-main event thriller.

Joan Guzman won the World Boxing Organization junior lightweight championship with a split decision over Jorge Barrios.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Marco Antonio Barrera delivers a left to the body of Rocky Juarez during his unanimous decision Saturday in Las Vegas.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press