Amir's out to topple hitman

AMIR'S OUT TO TOPPLE HITMAN ABOVE: Amir Khan 16th March 2009 By Kevin Francis AMIR Khan is now right on course for a world title shot after destroying ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera. But before that, he is aiming to help to plot the downfall of Ricky Hatton by sparring with The Hitman’s big fight opponent Manny Pacquiao. Hatton meets Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2 and Khan has been asked to help prepare the teak-tough Filipino for the big fight date. The 22-year-old Bolton bruiser Khan destroyed seven-time world champion Barrera in five rounds in front of 20,000 frenzied fans in Manchester. He claimed a technical decision on the scorecards after a clash of heads in the opening round caused a serious cut on Barrera’s forehead. The injury pumped blood non-stop as Khan produced his brilliant best with a world lightweight title fight now looming after he retained his WBO Intercontinental crown. But before he is given the chance to add to his collection of titles later this year, his trainer Freddie Roach wants him back in Los Angeles to help Pacquiao prepare for that showdown with Hatton. Roach trains both Pacquiao and Khan and the pair have spent plenty of gym time together, sparring and helping each other out during a spell in which they have become firm friends. Roach said: “It is definitely a possibility that Amir could spar with Manny for the Hatton fight, yeah. “I love using Amir because when you can handle his speed you are sharp and can deal with anybody. “He doesn’t have the exact same style as Hatton, but work is work and getting sharp is part of the game. “Amir and Pacquiao have very similar qualities. When they work together in the gym they are unbelievable.” Khan, who will fight again in June, added: “I would love to help him. It is a friendship and it is good to have someone like him to look up to. “He is pound for pound the best fighter in the world and if I can spar with him, it is going to take me on to the next level.” Barrera, who effectively ended the career of Naseem Hamed almost nine years ago, looked a shadow of the man who won world titles at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight. The wound sustained by the 35-year-old needed 33 stitches and was described by his veteran cuts man Tony Rivera as “the worst I have ever seen”. But the cut cannot take anything away from Khan’s near-perfect performance that erased the memory of his shock 54-second loss to the Colombian Breidis Prescott six months ago. Trainer Roach added: “I think Amir is my next superstar. He is a world-class fighter and that is why we took this fight. To be the best you’ve got beat the best. “He went in there and took Barrera’s game plan away from him and was very smart. This fight was his first step to stardom. “When Pacquiao beat Barrera, it was his first step to greatness and I feel the same for Amir.” Before Khan stepped through the ropes at the MEN Arena, the sell-out crowd had witnessed a bad night for the Brits. Welshman Enzo Macca-rinelli was stopped in the ninth by unknown Califor-nian Ola Afolabi in an interim WBO cruiserweight title fight. Dagenham star Nicky Cook lost the WBO featherweight title in his first defence, being halted in the fourth round by undefeated Puerto Rican Rocky Martinez.