Khan in lines up for a WBO title shot

Amir Khan could be set for a WBO world lightweight title shot if he beats Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera on Saturday at the MEN Arena, Manchester. With Barrera ranked number one by the WBO and Khan also rated inside the top 10, promoter Frank Warren is lobbying to make the fight a final eliminator. The title is held by Juan Manuel Marquez who beat Juan Diaz in March. "Barrera is number one with them and Amir is the next available contender, so it should be," said Warren. "I hope they will recognise it as that because it deserves to be, we'll keep our fingers crossed," he added. "We'll see what happens and how Amir looks in the fight. "If he does what I hope he can do and what I believe he can do, then this is going to be a big, big occasion and put him in a position which hopefully opens a lot of doors for us to decide what the next move is." Khan, 22, is certainly aware of how important this fight is and knows victory could see him erase the memory of his only defeat by Colombian Breidis Prescott in September 2008. The Bolton fighter says he has learned from that defeat claiming his link-up with trainer Freddie Roach has changed his style. He has adopted a more cautious approach and has vowed there will be no return to the reckless style that saw him knocked out by Prescott inside a minute. "The key is going to be staying focused, having a game plan and following it," said Khan. "I've just got to be more careful in this fight, be patient and control the fight. "In the Prescott fight I rushed in a little bit, I was running into punches. "That's not my style. My style is more slick, hit and move. That's what I'm going to stick to. "The biggest improvement under Freddie has been my defence. "After the Prescott fight I needed to work at it and working on my defence has made me a better fighter in a whole different way. It made me more focused and composed and made me think about things more." Source: BBC News --------------------------------------------------------------------- I predicted this all along, it's a joke. But i'd love to see JMM disposes of Khan.

Comments (16)

Khan might beat MAB, but he won't beat JMM.

17y ago

P4P_Opinion

You mean Warren wants to pull a Calzaghe? Yes, although I wouldn't call it pulling a Calzaghe, because Warren tries to do it with all his fighters. The irritating thing is that in both Calzaghe and Khan, he had/has highly ambitious fighters who he will waste. If I were a young, talented fighter in Britain and Warren wanted to sign me, I'd only sign a contract for the first developmental part of my career because to be fair, he can provide the money and decent progression in the early stages. I'd be out of there once I was at World level though. Notice how three of Warren's biggest ever fighters (Calzaghe, Hatton and Hamed) all left him at one point. Eventually Khan will realise that he'll have to leave Warren to further his career, if it's even possible with a chin like he has.

17y ago

street_bully

Woah. Slow down folks. Warren wants this to be an eliminator because he assumes Marquez will be moving up to fight the winner of Pacquiao-Hatton or will simply vacate the belt because a fight with Khan would do little for his resume. There is not a chance that Warren would put Khan in with Marquez. He wants Khan to win a vacated title, defend it against nobodies for a while and then maybe up the quality level once he thinks it's safe, if ever. You mean Warren wants to pull a Calzaghe?

17y ago

P4P_Opinion

Anyone want a bet on the Khan-Barrera fight by the way? I got Khan.

17y ago

uppercut_84

Khan will be the next Mexicutioner. Barrera on Saturday and Marquez later this year.

17y ago

P4P_Opinion

17y ago

Sparked_1985

Would be brilliant, i'd even pay to watch it. 18 seconds of violence. lol. He is a big lightweight though Khan and quick it may take JMM a few rounds.

17y ago

Joe2608

Would be brilliant, i'd even pay to watch it.

17y ago

street_bully

he'd hit him about 5 times on the way down. Warren should make it happen. JMM for Ko of the year. :boxing:

17y ago

Sparked_1985

JMM would kill Khan. The knockout would be truly devastating. he'd hit him about 5 times on the way down.

17y ago

street_bully

Khan can't beat JMM. The only guy Khan could beat at world-level is probably Katsidis. So unless JMM vacates and they can hook that up, no way should they consider it. JMM would kill Khan. The knockout would be truly devastating.

17y ago

Sparked_1985

Khan can't beat JMM. The only guy Khan could beat at world-level is probably Katsidis. So unless JMM vacates and they can hook that up, no way should they consider it.

17y ago

joe90210

I love how team khan continues to blame his loss to prescott on his "reckless style", he didn't lose because he was reckless, he lost because he got wobbled by a ****ing jab

17y ago

A JMM vs Khan fight would be hilarious and I support Khan getting a title shot for that reason alone

17y ago

street_bully

You know what I wouldn't mind if JMM were to take a break from fighting monsters defend his title against Khan, and end his career once and for all if he gets past Barerra.

17y ago

Zarco

Amir Khan, destroyer of Mexican legends

17y ago