Amir Khan vs Marco Antonio Barrera: Coming of age

On Saturday night Britain’s brightest boxing talent, Amir Khan, will be in the toughest fight of his career, taking on the former seven time world champion, Marco Antonio Barrera.

The lightweight bout dubbed ‘coming of age’ will be held at Manchester’s MEN Arena with the winner expected to be offered a world title fight.

Defeat is unthinkable for Khan, 22, who, after his humiliating knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in September, needs to answer his critics and show he is world class.

“You just have to prove them wrong…I don’t think I’m going to win, I know I’m going to win,” he said.

Khan’s best attribute is his sensational hand speed, he throws an assortment of punches at a blistering rate, and under the tutorage of new trainer, Freddy Roach, has become more ring savvy and added new moves to his repertoire.

The doubters say Khan has a glass jaw making him sustainable to a big punch and against a warrior like Barrera he could struggle.

Barrera, 35, is one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all time, his seven world titles came in three different weight divisions and the ‘Baby Face Assassin’ is as tough as they come.

Possessing a hard punch and incredible work rate Barrera ended the career of one of Britain’s finest boxers.

‘Prince’ Naseem Hammed was a sensational fighter with lightening reflexes and a blistering knockout punch.

In 2001 Barrera destroyed Hammed in Las Vegas, winning the IBF world featherweight title. The ‘Prince’ never fought again.

Other world champions to fall at the hands of Barrera have included Erik Morales, Kevin Kelly and Johnny Tapia.

His warrior spirit is obvious and Barrera truly believes he can beat Khan, saying:

“I know he’s a good fighter but he makes mistakes and I think he has a questionable chin, I feel sure I can beat him”

One way in for Khan could be Barerra’s recent tendency to cut.

In his last bout against Cuban, Freudis Rojas, Barerra won by disqualification after being head-butted and suffering a terrible gash.

More recently the Mexican almost had to postpone this fight after being cut during a sparing session.

A few years ago this wouldn’t even have been a contest, Barrera’s strength and power would have been too much for Khan to handle.

The younger, fitter and quicker Khan will however have enough in his all round game to beat an ageing Barrera, but don’t count out the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’s’ ability to go to war.

If Khan’s chin holds up he should win and then a big fight in America and world titles beckon.