Barrera-Khan: WBO Lightweight Title Could Be On The Line
February 16th, 2009
By Eric Thomas: According to The Sun, promoter Frank Warren is hoping that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) will sanction the March 14th lightweight battle between Amir Khan (19-1, 15 KOs) and Marco Antonio Barrera (65-6, 43 KOs) and make the now vacant title be on the line on that night. Certainly, Barrera, who’s ranked #1 in the WBO, would be a worthy challenger for the title.
The reason it wouldn’t be a good thing for Khan is that he’s only one fight removed from his 1st round TKO loss to Breidis Prescott in September 2008, and if Khan does beat Barrera, then Amir would likely find himself having to defend the title against someone really good like the above mentioned Marquez, Diaz, Funeka, all of which I see knocking Khan out without too many problems.
Those fighters are in a different class as far I can tell, and regardless of how well trained Khan is, he would have a lot of problems if having to face these guys. That’s not to say that he couldn’t possibly beat them someday, because he might in the future if he can keep improving.
But it’s probably not a wise move to put him in a position just yet where he’s likely faced with the prospect of fighting them at this early point in his career. Of course, Khan will make a nice amount of money by winning the title and defending it against one of the lower ranked fighters in the lightweight division for his first defense.
Khan would get a good payday for that fight, and for a fight against someone like Marquez or Diaz, but it would come at a price. If he gets knocked out in the 1st or 2nd by one of those guys, something I have a good feeling would happen, it would be damaging to his career with boxing fans and possibly damaging to him physically and mentally.
Probably the last thing he needs right now, or anytime soon in the future, is to face a murderous puncher with talent and skills that can take him out again. If he’s struggling to beat fighters like Prescott, then he probably has no business fighting for a title – at least for now.
The WBO title is open because Nate Campbell, the lightweight champion up until this past week, was unable to make weight for his weigh-in for Saturday’s fight against challenger Funeka.
Tags: 11 Responses to “Barrera-Khan: WBO Lightweight Title Could Be On The Line”
Leave a Reply
please use above banner to link back to us!
facts are facts khans no 9 ranked by wbo,and barrerras no1 ranked ,cambell gets stripped for failing weight,so title now vacent.barrerra no1 in wbo is set to fight khan no 9 ranked on 14 march,now upgrade fight to vacent title ,its simple really!!how many times have champions made defenes against no,7 8 9 ranked opponents?it happens all the time so oli it wont be a disgrace if khan wins the title ,he will have earned it by beating the no 1 ranked lightweight in the wbo.
if this happens then its a joke! i said as soon as i heard campbell had vacated that something like this would happen and this is how khan would worm his way to a world title. if barerra wins the belt by beating khan then its not right. but if khan wins a belt this way then its a total disgrace. if he actually pulls it off then he should be made to fight presscott again at the next available oppertunity
It is about time khan had a good fight instead of tip-toeing around.Barrera will hurt him
khan has the ability to do well.
but i still woudent say that he’s the best in the uk let alone ready for a title shot.
i would say that thaxton is better than him as well as john murry.
Khan is no good. If he’s the real deal then he needs to take the big fight after a losses.
also agreed.. he doesnt actually deserve a shot yet, until prescott gets his title shot khan shouldnt get one
Its clear to see in the sport that some boxers manage to find a path to the top by swerving round certain fights.
I just think Khans chin is too weak to manage even that. I think this is the only way he could win himself a belt so he should just thank his lucky stars that this oppertunity has happened.
khan hasn’t earned a shot, as far as real boxing fans are concerned he is behind thaxton, katsidas and oh yeah prescott in the pecking order
Fair article. I dont wanna see Khan ruin his career by getting hold of a world title to early. He isnt ready for big names yet. If this fight with Barrera was for a world title.. and he does win.. i cant see him keeping it long.
Beat Barrera (Easy said than done)… get another 2 fights under his belt with Freddie Roach and then i believe he would be ready to win a title and defend it against the best.
uksodoff ANdre Berto is in a bad position because of winning a world title because know he has to fight the likes of Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Williams etc. He’s good but to green and these fighters could end up ruining him.
I dont understand how a chance of winning a world title is a bad thing.
I dont believe hes done anything to earn a title shot, i dont think his WBO ranking of 9 is really fair, i dont even think hes the best in the UK.
But if its right that Khan would get knocked out as soon as he stepped up in class and not get anywhere near a title shot then how is this not a good thing for him?