Barrera vs. Khan: The Loser Needs To Retire
March 5th, 2009
By Dave Lahr: Normally, I wouldn’t advise two otherwise quality fighters to retire after a loss, but in this case one of them definitely needs to hang the gloves permanently. Heck, even with a win in this fight, the victor has a huge uphill climb if they ever want to win a title in the future. With two losses in his last four fights, it’s doubtful that Barrera, now thirty-five, can accomplish much other than landing another title shot against Juan Manuel Marquez, and, of course, lose badly as Barrera did two years ago in 2007 when he lost by a 12-round decision.
A win for Khan would likely put him in against a veteran like Marquez, who with his talent and power, he’d likely obliterate Khan almost as easily as Prescott did. At that point, Khan would be exactly where he would be if he loses to Barrera on March 14th, having to answer questions about what he wants to accomplish with his career. Neither of these fighters is heading too much further if you ask me.
Sure, Khan can stick around the sport for awhile longer due to his youth, speed and skills, but his chin will surely betray him when he’s forced to step it up against a top fighter like Marquez or Ali Funeka. When that time comes, Khan will lose and lose big.
His trainer Freddie Roach and then attempt to put him together again but eventually, he’d going to realize it’s a lost cause and probably step down, allowing Khan to finish his career as a fighter limited to facing only soft British competition rather than top level world talent.
Indeed, those are the type of fighters that Khan should really be fighting because his loss to Prescott, including his knockdowns against other fighters like Willie Limond, Michel Gomez and Rachid Drilzane, suggests that Khan doesn’t have the chin to be facing top flight competition.
Sticking around for a few years against the softer fighters in the British ranks, Khan may still be able to make a nice living in over there in the same way that Joe Calzaghe was able to. Ideally, Khan could win one of the belts like the BBC of C titles, and hold onto it for ages, every now and then stepping it up against top world competition and of course getting slapped down as easy as he was against Prescott.
He could make good money, despite never matching up to the potential that was predicted for him by some after the Olympics. However, if he loses to Barrera, especially by knockout, then he really needs to consider retiring because Barrera is far past his prime at 35 and doesn’t have much power for a lightweight, a level above his former weight of super featherweight.
Tags: 10 Responses to “Barrera vs. Khan: The Loser Needs To Retire”
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I suppose Khan is trying to avenge the boxing lesson his loud mouthed, back pedaling buddy Naseem Hamed took from Barrera. Well even if he does win he should know that he does not belong on the same venue as the Mexican in his prime. The fact that he chose to fight this warrior who he knows is past his prime shows his lack of character. I hope he gets thrashed and yes he should retire. Barrera is a real man who has taken all all comers. Khan will never be champ.
There is no need for Khan to retire if he loses. There will be every need for him to stop talking of winning world titles though. That talk will be fanciful in the extreme if he cannot beat an ageing, possibly cut-hampered ring legend, who is stepping up from the weight of his glory days.
If Barrera loses by reason of Khan opening up that cut, he will have to kick himself for taking the fight when not in a suitable condition and then decide whether he wishes to continue given his quick route to a title-fight (and chance to make history) will be gone.
If Barrera loses for any reason other than Khan opening up the cut, then I’m afraid it’s time to hang the gloves for this fantastic fighter.
i do think khan is chinny and very gung ho but do admire how he has kept his chin up (no pun intended) since his knockout loss, but no-one can say he has been pushed early, i remember distinctivley khan saying he was going to be world champion by the time he was 21 and be RETIRED by 25, yet he still blamed and sacked coach rubio for his choice of opponent (a natural lightweight who can punch) when he was knocked out
dont like khan, i mean i dont like wat british journalists have made of him highly over rating him instaed of being honest with themsels. i do hav respect for khan who unlike som british fighters mainly joe “the joke” calzaghe has chosen a dangerous risky fight instead of prancing about like a fairy defending the same old belt against poor opposition instead of pushing himself and taking risks against A class fighters.
Why on earth would Khan retire, you didn’t see Hopkins retire when he lost his first ever fight, he’s young enough to bounce back.
well said heavy t. it just proves how mature the writers on here are.
why does everyone have to retire when they lose? if Khan loses and retires its a bit of a waste, the boys barely out his teens, he can still improve hes just been pushed too hard early in his career
i agree with ukandsodoff and made a similiar point bout a week ago. yeh, the aim of a sport is to play at the highest level, but obviously, the majority will never be good enough. does that mean they should give up? no. you just go within means and try n push and excel yourself. if khan loses, he’ll drop down to european and try and push as far back up as he can.
As for barrera, hes reaching a time in his career where it would be wise to hang the gloves up and i think he would consider this should he lose easily. I think a close decision lose would keep him in the game for a bit longer.
This fight will go 2 ways, and they both depend on Barrera. If Barrera comes to fight in good condition and pulls khan into a war, Khan will be dismantled and probabally KO’d.
But if Barrera takes its easy and doesnt train hard, at 35, Khans fast hand speed will be too much for barrera in which he will take a lob-sided beating and maybe even loose by TKO in the later rounds. Say what you want about Barrera he still has class and all the skills to be a contender, it just depends on whether he has hunger for it anymore.
Say what you like about Khan but he is only a young lad and was very naive against presscott (who is a K0 specialist -18/19) and was simply caught with a series of big punches that would have most likley took out most lightwieghts. Presscot definatly diserves a title shot before Khan, but i dont he will, he will most likley be held down under boxing politics.
I think if Barrera loses he should consider retirement. A true legend of the sport but maybe his time has come.
If Khan loses it just proves he cant compete at the higher end of the division or against anybody with power, no matter how good some of the rest of the game is. If hes happy to hang around domestic level then theres 10 years of boxing left in him.
I never made it as a professional footbaler, does that mean i should not play amatuer footy? No it just means i cant realise my dreams.