AMIR KHAN NEEDS HELP

Prince can give him tips for Barrera showdown

MEXICAN WAVE - Amir Khan looks forward to his clash with Barrera

By STEVE LILLIS, 17/01/2009

AMIR KHAN will beg Naseem Hamed to help prepare him for his mega-clash with Marco Antonio Barrera.

Khan flew to Los Angeles yesterday to join trainer Freddie Roach - who has told his protégé to 'get a day job' if he can't beat the Mexican legend in Manchester on March 14.

Naz, whose career was effectively ended by Barrera in April 2001, has become one of Khan's closest friends.

The Yemeni Yorkshireman fought just once after being outpointed by Barrera. He rarely makes public appearances, living a reclusive life in Surrey, though he is often linked with a ring return.

Khan, 22, who lost his unbeaten record when Breidis Prescott flattened him in September, wants the former world featherweight champion to join him at Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Commonwealth lightweight champion Khan said: "I'm close to Naz. He speaks openly with me and I'll see what he thinks about this fight.

TAKE THAT - Maroc Antonio Barrera on his way to victory over Naseem Hamed in 2001

"He'll be very happy to help me and I wouldn't be surprised if he said: 'I'll come to LA'. That would be brilliant. If my friend was fighting Prescott I'd tell them what mistakes I made.

"Naz knows more than me or anyone else I know about Barrera because he went 12 rounds with him at his peak."

Khan turned to Roach after his chilling 54-second defeat to Prescott. And the American, who twice trained Manny Pacquiao to defeat Barrera, doesn't think Naz will be needed.

Comfortable

Roach, 48, added: "Barrera is not what he used to be, especially now at lightweight. i watched his recent fight in China and I am comfortable with this fight now for Amir.

"If Amir can't beat this kind of guy at this point, maybe he'd be better going off and getting a job!"

Since suffering his only setback in 20 professional fights, Khan has bashed Irishman Oisin Fagan (top), a schoolteacher in Oklahoma City.

Barrera, 35 yesterday, held world titles at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight. But he has boxed just once at lightweight, the 9st 9lb division he faces Khan in. He has lost just six times in 71 fights despite boxing for the last 12 years with a small metal plate in his skull to protect an area which was operated on.

Dreams

Bookies make him a slight favourite - but Khan's mates at home in Bolton reckon the Mexican is an even bigger cert!

Khan revealed: "When I knew there was a possibility I could fight Barrera, my mates were like: 'Barrera - are you sure? They're not going to say 'He's better than you, he'll beat you', but I could see them thinking it.

"I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to prove everyone wrong."

Khan will also spar with Pacquiao, who is due to meet Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 2.

Barrera was stopped by the Pacman in 2003 and retired after losing to him again 15 months ago. He returned to the ring in November because he dreams of becoming the first Mexican to win world titles at four weights.

Your comments

This article has 14 comments

prince naseem was undeafeated until barrera but he should know because he has obviously experienced it you loonys.

By mansoor.. Posted June 5 2010 at 12:58 PM.

i hope barrera wins this fight... my favourite moment of all time was when barrera outboxed and outclassed naz in madison square garden. the look of sheer bemusement and fright on naz's face when he knew he was beaten and had no "plan b"...

his clown antics did nothing for him that night and he was found out BIG TIME by a relentless mexican.

i can still see that cheesy sneery grin on naz's face pretending he wasnt bothered by getting skooled by a proper fighter! BRILLIANT !

khan's heart is in the right place by his mouth lets him down time and time again and that is why he will never be loved by the boxing public. best of luck to you amir but i hope barrera takes you out !

By celticboxingfan.. Posted January 26 2009 at 12:15 PM.

I hope khan will get the credit he deserves if he beats barrera

By Darren .. Posted January 25 2009 at 2:43 PM.

Khan has no chance!
Barrera will take any punch Amir can throw at him in the early rounds and then grind him to a stoppage in rounds 6 or 7!
Stamina and experiance are the 2 key aspects to this fight and Barrera has both in abundance!!!

By Paul Scott.. Posted January 19 2009 at 7:32 AM.

Khan will win, the reason why he is going to naz is cause you learn from mistakes, i tink people are to quick to judge, when Amir whens then we will see what you guys will say, i bet you still will be talking about prescott

By Kosh Miah.. Posted January 18 2009 at 11:42 PM.

Come on to much bad vibes for the Prince. Have we all forgotton what a legend this man is? Of course Khan can learn from Naz the mas was brilliant at what he did. I think Naz beat himself against Barrera by getting caught up in the hype at not knuckling down to business. I for one would still like to see Barrerra Hamed two!

By Justin Perry.. Posted January 18 2009 at 7:46 PM.

Why doe's Khan want Hamed to help in to beat Barrera, when he got battered himself by the Mexican. Hamed was nearly always off balance, he often fell over when throwing punches, so if Khan want's to lose this fight then by all means seek the help of Hamed. Amir Khan will not be the best in Britain untill he meets and beats young boxers like John Murray, who after all is the Champion of GB.

By raymond lee.. Posted January 18 2009 at 3:57 PM.

In the first place at 17 years of age Khan should not have gone to the Olympics because the Senior ABA's experience criteria and rules should not have allowed him to go and I think he will not be a great boxer because he is being pushed and pushed and pushed to the front ranks which was proved in the Breidis Prescott bout.

By Ted Butler.. Posted January 18 2009 at 3:17 PM.

barrera is no shot fighter he went the full 12 wid pac ,an juan manual marquez to of the best in the world in his last 3 fights khans jaw is weak but if he sticks and moved 4 the full 36 minutes hes gota chance not much of one but stil a chance barrera is beter than most the lightweight champs this is a career defineing fight goodluck ur gona need plenty of it

By ironlee.. Posted January 18 2009 at 2:15 PM.

khan will be lucky to go 3 rounds this man has not shot it an should be way to strong for khan at 9st 9lb but then again thats wat everyone thoght with de la hoya v pacquiao wait an see

By gregg berry .. Posted January 18 2009 at 12:59 PM.

What is Naseem gonna teach 'Glass Chin' Khan, how to get destroyed in 12 rounds. Barrera is a ring legend and i beleive he is not past it. It would be a good contest if Khan can take his punches, but i don't think he will, so this could be over quickly aswell. I have Barrera to win in 3.

By Gagsy.. Posted January 18 2009 at 9:35 AM.

I agee i think KHAN can win and all of england should get behind him, cos i know all of mexican will get behind Berrera. go and show them.

By lee.. Posted January 18 2009 at 6:43 AM.

Come on Keith, Barrera is far from passed it. This isn't a washed-up Mike Tyson we're talking about here. This is a man who just 14 months ago went 12 rounds with the Pacman! There is no way Khan can win this Speed is one thing, but if the other bloke is just as quick and has more experience, there's a problem. I'll take Barrera to completely out-box Khan.

As for Naz, what will he teach Khan? How to get your head knocked off by Marco Antonio??

By super joe.. Posted January 18 2009 at 5:50 AM.

Prince Naseem is hardly the right man to give anyone advice, least of all another boxer. Barrera is past it, and so the Khan fight will be too predictable to be truly big box-office.

By Keith Price.. Posted January 18 2009 at 1:16 AM.

We have to check every comment before we can allow it to be published. But don't worry, we've got a team on it 24/7 - so check back soon! Please note that we cannot publish all comments received. The editor's decision is final. Please note that your email address will not be displayed next to your comment.