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Amir Khan Takes 'first Step To Greatness
Amir Khan climbed "his first step to greatness" by defeating a ring legend in former seven-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico at the MEN Arena, Manchester. Yet there will be no resting on his lightning-fisted laurels.
After a near-perfect performance before a capacity audience at the scene of his 54-second knockout last September to heavy-handed Colombian Breidis Prescott, Khan will return with alacrity to the spit and sawdust of the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Sparring with Manny Pacquiao, the world's No 1 boxer, awaits.
Trainer Freddie Roach, who has clearly reconstructed the tyro's defensive capabilities, wants Khan to return to Los Angeles in April to spar with Pacquiao ahead of the Filipino's May superfight showdown with Ricky Hatton, insisting Khan improves Pacquiao's sharpness, while promoter Frank Warren, relieved and relaxed with his charge's latest offering, can plot the route for his Khan towards a world title.
"Amir used all his attributes, and made it his night. I'd like to see him have a world title around his waist by the end of the year," said Warren, who had earlier seen Nicky Cook lose the World Boxing Organisation super-featherweight title to unbeaten Puerto Rican Roman Martinez, followed swiftly by the demise, in the ninth round, of Enzo Maccarinelli at the hands of Ola Alofabi in an eliminator for a shot at the WBO cruiserweight title.
Warren claimed afterwards that Maccarinelli had told him he had not had a single round of sparring in preparation for the contest. Bizarre, indeed.
Yet Khan has the force with him, revealing that he had been pushed to the limit in sparring 110 rounds in camp. In the five rounds against Barrera, Khan was scintillating, exposing Barrera's age, at 35, and his ring weariness. That he ended Barrera's illustrious career by technical knockout on a cut after an accidental head clash in the opening round is all that took the gloss off this victory. Barrera had to fight through a cascade of blood falling into his left eye.
When the contest was stopped all but one of the three judges had Khan winning all five rounds, and if ever he needed a rite of passage to the lightweight crown, then this was it.
Crisp, spiteful combinations, on the inside and from the outside, smart movement, and finally, real awareness of where, and when, his opponent's moves were coming from. Khan has moved on in droves.
"I see Amir as my next champion," said Roach. Those words should echo time and again in the mind of the young Khan, his tutor having worked with, among others, Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson.
"It was Amir's night," said Warren. "You can't fault his performance. He never let Barrera into the fight. He used his height, his speed, and used his head. Winning is about using your attributes, and Amir did exactly that."
Khan is likely to fight next in June. "If I'd lost this fight, you could have forgotten Amir Khan," said the confident 22-year-old, who had seen his friends banished, and his mobile phone confiscated by Roach in the last fortnight.
"It was boring, the most boring nine weeks of my life." Boring maybe, but that isolation can create the most exciting of fighters. The next move may take some thought. Nate Campbell, holder of three of the world lightweight belts, had looked a likely opponent until he was stripped of the titles last month after weighing in 2lb over the 9st 9lb limit against Ali Funeka.
For now, a return to rub shoulders with Pacquiao. "It does me good, it gives me a lot of confidence and if I can handle Manny I know I can move on to the next level. He's great to be around. We go out running together in the mountains, and he helps me out with good advice."
As does Roach. "Amir is a world class fighter and that's why we took this fight. He took Barrera's game plan away, and he was smart about it. Pacquiao and Amir have similar styles, and when they work together it's like watching a **** fight. Hopefully he will be the next one to go on and do what Manny Pacquiao has done. Amir has just taken his first step towards greatness."
Amir Khan takes 'first step to greatness' - Telegraph
What a massive performance! What a recovery and great shape he is in. His jabs and punches are the fastest I've ever seen! This guy is electric. What a great defence! Amir took Barrera apart from the word go. I've never seen him so hungry. This guy can become a legend with this attitude.
For all those that missed the match, watch it on the following link whilst you still can!
Amir Khan vs Marco Antonio Barrera Live Stream & Results | Tomtacks SEO
Amir Khan climbed "his first step to greatness" by defeating a ring legend in former seven-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico at the MEN Arena, Manchester. Yet there will be no resting on his lightning-fisted laurels.
After a near-perfect performance before a capacity audience at the scene of his 54-second knockout last September to heavy-handed Colombian Breidis Prescott, Khan will return with alacrity to the spit and sawdust of the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Sparring with Manny Pacquiao, the world's No 1 boxer, awaits.
Trainer Freddie Roach, who has clearly reconstructed the tyro's defensive capabilities, wants Khan to return to Los Angeles in April to spar with Pacquiao ahead of the Filipino's May superfight showdown with Ricky Hatton, insisting Khan improves Pacquiao's sharpness, while promoter Frank Warren, relieved and relaxed with his charge's latest offering, can plot the route for his Khan towards a world title.
"Amir used all his attributes, and made it his night. I'd like to see him have a world title around his waist by the end of the year," said Warren, who had earlier seen Nicky Cook lose the World Boxing Organisation super-featherweight title to unbeaten Puerto Rican Roman Martinez, followed swiftly by the demise, in the ninth round, of Enzo Maccarinelli at the hands of Ola Alofabi in an eliminator for a shot at the WBO cruiserweight title.
Warren claimed afterwards that Maccarinelli had told him he had not had a single round of sparring in preparation for the contest. Bizarre, indeed.
Yet Khan has the force with him, revealing that he had been pushed to the limit in sparring 110 rounds in camp. In the five rounds against Barrera, Khan was scintillating, exposing Barrera's age, at 35, and his ring weariness. That he ended Barrera's illustrious career by technical knockout on a cut after an accidental head clash in the opening round is all that took the gloss off this victory. Barrera had to fight through a cascade of blood falling into his left eye.
When the contest was stopped all but one of the three judges had Khan winning all five rounds, and if ever he needed a rite of passage to the lightweight crown, then this was it.
Crisp, spiteful combinations, on the inside and from the outside, smart movement, and finally, real awareness of where, and when, his opponent's moves were coming from. Khan has moved on in droves.
"I see Amir as my next champion," said Roach. Those words should echo time and again in the mind of the young Khan, his tutor having worked with, among others, Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson.
"It was Amir's night," said Warren. "You can't fault his performance. He never let Barrera into the fight. He used his height, his speed, and used his head. Winning is about using your attributes, and Amir did exactly that."
Khan is likely to fight next in June. "If I'd lost this fight, you could have forgotten Amir Khan," said the confident 22-year-old, who had seen his friends banished, and his mobile phone confiscated by Roach in the last fortnight.
"It was boring, the most boring nine weeks of my life." Boring maybe, but that isolation can create the most exciting of fighters. The next move may take some thought. Nate Campbell, holder of three of the world lightweight belts, had looked a likely opponent until he was stripped of the titles last month after weighing in 2lb over the 9st 9lb limit against Ali Funeka.
For now, a return to rub shoulders with Pacquiao. "It does me good, it gives me a lot of confidence and if I can handle Manny I know I can move on to the next level. He's great to be around. We go out running together in the mountains, and he helps me out with good advice."
As does Roach. "Amir is a world class fighter and that's why we took this fight. He took Barrera's game plan away, and he was smart about it. Pacquiao and Amir have similar styles, and when they work together it's like watching a **** fight. Hopefully he will be the next one to go on and do what Manny Pacquiao has done. Amir has just taken his first step towards greatness."
Amir Khan takes 'first step to greatness' - Telegraph
What a massive performance! What a recovery and great shape he is in. His jabs and punches are the fastest I've ever seen! This guy is electric. What a great defence! Amir took Barrera apart from the word go. I've never seen him so hungry. This guy can become a legend with this attitude.
For all those that missed the match, watch it on the following link whilst you still can!
Amir Khan vs Marco Antonio Barrera Live Stream & Results | Tomtacks SEO
