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Khan to silence the critics

Image: Khan: fight of his life

Amir Khan says he will prove the doubters - including his own friends - wrong by beating Marco Antonio Barrera.

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Even my friends think I'll lose, admits Amir

Amir Khan admits even his own friends expect him to lose to Marco Antonio Barrera. The Bolton lightweight says he will have to prove everyone wrong when he goes in against the Mexican legend on March 14, live on Sky Box Office. Khan's reputation was left in tatters by that stunning 54-second loss to Breidis Prescott last September, despite a comeback win over Oisin Fagan. Barrera would not be many people's choice as a man to rebuild their repuation against, but speaking from Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, the 22-year-old is out to prove a point. "It's a big fight for me, probably the biggest fight of my whole boxing career, so I am going to go in there and grab it with both hands," he told Sky Sports. "I spoke to Freddie over the phone, I said 'Freddie what do you think? Do you think I should take this fight on?'. He said 'yes, take this fight on, I know how to beat the guy and I know you've got the tools to beat this guy'. "I'm going to prove my own friends wrong, I'm going to prove the critics wrong, I am going to prove the whole world wrong and show that I am good fighter and beat Barrera."

Better

Roach, rated by many as the best trainer in boxing, has already masterminded successes over Barrera with Manny Pacquiao. He has enlisted the help of former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer for the fight of Khan's life, but is as certain they can make it three. Roach also believes that the loss to Prescott might just turn out to be the making of his man. "That loss will probably be the best thing that ever happened to this kid," he said. "It woke him up, everything was maybe to easy for him before that. He's become a fighter now - and he wants to be a better fighter, that's the key. "His speed, his youth, his pace will be too much for Barrera at this moment."

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