By Mark Vester
UK Promoter Mick Hennessy says if Marco Antonio Barrera is anything like he was in his prime, he should knock out Amir Khan within three rounds. Hennessy had been in talks with Khan's promoter Frank Warren for a potential meeting with British champion John Murray. Warrend dropped a bombshell when he announced the meeting between Khan and Barrera, scheduled for March 14 at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
"If Barrera is anything like the man he was, he will knock Khan out inside three rounds," Hennessy told The Telegraph.
Khan believes that a win over Barrera will erase last September's 54-second knockout loss to Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott. Barrera only two defeats in the last few years, both by decision, were to Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, two of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport. On paper Barrera is still far more dangerous than Prescott.
Freddie Roach, who trained Pacquiao for his two wins over Barrera, is the new trainer of Khan. The plan is for Khan and Pacquiao to train together at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
"This a fight for the fans and a chance for them to see Barrera, who is a living boxing legend, in a British ring against a young fighter who aims to achieve what he has. It's also the perfect opportunity to rid the ghosts of my loss to Breidis Prescott last year and a victory would send my career onto another level," Khan said.
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