Khan Holds All The Advantages Over Barrera
February 12th, 2009
By Chris Williams: In looking over lightweight Amir Khan’s March 14th fight against veteran former champion Marco Antonio Barrera, I see the decked pretty much stacked against the 35-year-old Barrera, putting him in an almost no win situations. Certainly, Barrera has the advantage in experience over the young 22-year-old Khan, and a better chin than him, but that’s really about it.
As such, it seems as if Barrera has been brought in to be a paid for sacrificial lamb for Khan to slaughter. The idea behind choosing an old fighter like Barrera is obvious. He’s like a lion that has had its teeth and claws pulled out, almost totally harmless for Khan to toy with without having to worry about getting stretched again like he was in the 1st round last year by Breidis Prescott in September.
Khan was thought to be mature enough, and wise up to be able to manage Prescott’s power shots without folding. Instead, Khan was staggered by the first hard jab that Prescott threw in the fight, and a few seconds later put down with a left hook.
After adding a new trainer, Khan followed up that defeat with a 2nd round TKO victory over C-class opponent Oisin Fagan in December. The victory did little to heal the wounds from Khan’s destruction by Prescott among fans and writers in the media.
To try and regain his lost credibility, Khan would need a higher grade of opponent, someone with a name, but not someone so good that they could knock him out again. This is where Barrera came in. He had beaten in back to back fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao in 2007 while fighting as a super featherweight, and then looked horrible after moving to lightweight and beating journeyman Sammy Ventura in November.
Looking old, slow and slightly overweight against Ventura, it’s no surprise that Barrera was selected as an opponent for Khan, and it takes no magical future predicting powers to see that Khan will likely wipe the deck with this old version of Barrera. Freddie Roach can see what I can, which is why he blessed the fight and has been making all kinds of positive predictions about Khan winning.
As bad as Barrera has looked in recent fights, it doesn’t take a genius to arrive at the fact that he had very little chance of beating Khan. The only ones who seem to be giving Barrera a chance are those that haven’t seen his recent fights are going on their memory of Barrera fighting in his youth against opponents like Erik Morales, Kevin Kelley and Paulie Ayala. Sadly, that fighter is long gone now, and what remains is only a fraction of what he once was.
Tags: 8 Responses to “Khan Holds All The Advantages Over Barrera”
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Mind you, i think Pac said he wouldnt step back down to Lightweight again.
Khans speed and power is nothing if he cant sort out his defense and protect his questionable chin. Barrera may be an ageing fighter, but he can still throw a sttrong enough punch to rock Khans legs.
And as we know, all it takes is one punch.
If Khan makes it past Barrera, then how does he stand up against Campbell or Pac? Simple answer, he doesnt. I just dont see him living up to his hype and getting a title, at least Barrera has the chin as well as the ability to challenge.
The picture doesn’t quite depect the article.
well said mr x khan all the way watch out hatton,witter,cotto,khans coming for u all in 2011
For once I agree with a writer on this website. Yes, Khan is going to be too much with his speed and power. Barrera is going to look very old and slow and is going to get hit at will until khan’s gets the TKO.
khans been put to training with freddy roach who will be training him to use that speed and not get hit barrera does apear to have been hand picked to boost khans apeal and this cut to barrera not being left to heal properly whats all that about i hope his getting payed well for boosting khans ego i myself think khan should look closer to home and fight some good young brittish talent instead of searching the wourld for the average and over the hill. it would be good to see barrera catch that glass jaw doe.
Although I agreed MAB is not the fighter he was, he’s a long way from shot.
He’s only fought 7 rounds since going the distance with Pac and Marquez (Ring No 1 & 2 P4P)
Barrera will get cut early on and Khan will exploit this with his superior speed (only now is it superior. 10 years ago Khan would have had his arse handed to him) to jab at it until the ref and doctor stop it.
i think this fight should have been put back a bit. Mid to late april would have made this a much better fight.
Khan TKO in the 6th. My prediction.