ishy
03-07-2009, 06:18 PM
AMIR Khan says victory over Marco Antonio Barrera can fast-track him to a world title.
The Bolton boxer has a dream chance of putting himself right back in the frame as a leading contender in the lightweight division if he can overcome the Mexican legend at the MEN Arena next Saturday.
The 22-year-old is still smarting from his embarrassing first round defeat to Colombian Breidis Prescott last September and, although he bounced back with a second round stoppage of Irishman Oisin Fagan in December, the Commonwealth champion still has to reassert himself on the world stage.
That is the main reason why he jumped at the chance to take on a former six-time world champion, who has such an impressive pedigree that he is destined for boxing’s Hall of Fame.
“It is going to be a great fight as he is a massive name. He has been there and done it, “ said Khan.
“This fight has put me right back up there.
“I can answer all the critics, change everyone’s view and put myself in line for a mandatory shot at the world title.
“It will also help my confidence even more. If I can beat a legend then there will be more legends to come.”
Khan has been quick to turn his defeat to Prescott into a positive, adding: “If I had won the fight against Prescott this fight might not have taken place.
“But now I need it more than Barrera.
“I have a lot to prove and instead of proving it in three or four fights I can prove it in just one fight.
“If I win, there are a lot of options – including the European title now that Jon Thaxton has lost it, as he wouldn’t fight me.
“If I could win that, it would prove to people that is what I would have done to Thaxton, but first I have this fight to get over with.”
Khan is back in Bolton after a six-week training camp in Los Angeles at his coach Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, but says that time has flown.
“Fighting Barrera has made me work harder and the six weeks have gone so quick.
“That was half the battle, getting the training out of the way.
“It has been hard coming back here and ad******g. I am still in training camp so I have had to switch my phone off and live with my coaches.
“I have learned a lot from previous fights when I was getting distracted and not resting at the right time.
“The defeat was a wake-up call and has changed so much of my life.”
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The Bolton boxer has a dream chance of putting himself right back in the frame as a leading contender in the lightweight division if he can overcome the Mexican legend at the MEN Arena next Saturday.
The 22-year-old is still smarting from his embarrassing first round defeat to Colombian Breidis Prescott last September and, although he bounced back with a second round stoppage of Irishman Oisin Fagan in December, the Commonwealth champion still has to reassert himself on the world stage.
That is the main reason why he jumped at the chance to take on a former six-time world champion, who has such an impressive pedigree that he is destined for boxing’s Hall of Fame.
“It is going to be a great fight as he is a massive name. He has been there and done it, “ said Khan.
“This fight has put me right back up there.
“I can answer all the critics, change everyone’s view and put myself in line for a mandatory shot at the world title.
“It will also help my confidence even more. If I can beat a legend then there will be more legends to come.”
Khan has been quick to turn his defeat to Prescott into a positive, adding: “If I had won the fight against Prescott this fight might not have taken place.
“But now I need it more than Barrera.
“I have a lot to prove and instead of proving it in three or four fights I can prove it in just one fight.
“If I win, there are a lot of options – including the European title now that Jon Thaxton has lost it, as he wouldn’t fight me.
“If I could win that, it would prove to people that is what I would have done to Thaxton, but first I have this fight to get over with.”
Khan is back in Bolton after a six-week training camp in Los Angeles at his coach Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, but says that time has flown.
“Fighting Barrera has made me work harder and the six weeks have gone so quick.
“That was half the battle, getting the training out of the way.
“It has been hard coming back here and ad******g. I am still in training camp so I have had to switch my phone off and live with my coaches.
“I have learned a lot from previous fights when I was getting distracted and not resting at the right time.
“The defeat was a wake-up call and has changed so much of my life.”
[Only registered and activated users can see links]