Wayne McCullough says defeat to Amir Khan proves Marco Antonio Barrera is no lightweight.
Legend learned he's not big enough for the likes of Khan
The question, going into his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera, was if one quick win since his KO loss to Breidis Prescott was enough for Amir Khan.
Inexperience versus experience was how the fight was seen to be but would the timing be right for Khan?
Having two wins since retiring following his loss to Manny Pacquiao in October 2007, Barrera was definitely the smaller man. He won his first world championship at 122lbs (8st 10lbs) but began his career way back in 1989 at flyweight although he was only 15 years old.
Fights at feather and super-featherweight followed, winning titles in both weight classes, but was Barrera's fight with Khan - which was fought at lightweight - just one weight class to high?
The 5' 6" Barrera had won both of his comeback fights inside the distance. He had fought between lightweight and light-welterweight but they were below par journeyman class opponents.
The Khan fight was make or break for both fighters and a stage to show that Khan can compete at world level. But did Barrera still have the desire? The Mexican got an amazing reception walking to the ring which showed his legendary status.
Accidental
Straight away in the first round, Barrera suffered a bad cut which could have ended the fight quickly and that would not have been good for the fans. It was high on his head, caused by an accidental headbutt but after a check by the doctor he was able to continue.
However, the 22-year-old Khan was the bigger of the two and just too fast and accurate. Barrera looked a shell of the fighter who had shared the ring with great fighters like Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez to name a few.
By now it was evident that lightweight was not the right division for Barrera. Credit to Khan who used his good stiff scoring left jabs and foot movement to win rounds and stay out of trouble.
Since Barrera moved up in weight from super-bantamweight he has a lower KO percentage, so was Khan really able to put the Prescott loss behind him?
Khan wasn't too worried about taking shots and he landed his own right hand at will on Barrera's chin.
Combinations
His gameplan was a smart one. He knew the Barrera of the past seven years (since the Hamed fight) was a counter-puncher but Khan made him get his punches off first leaving himself open for Khan to counter punch him with quick, speedy combinations.
Finally in the fifth round the fight was stopped and Khan was awarded the TKO when the doctor called a halt to the bout due to Barrera's cut.
With four rounds completed the fight automatically went to the scorecards - since it was an accidental butt - and Khan won by scores of 50-45 twice and 50-44 on the judges' cards.
Khan came through and moves on to bigger things. He said he made this fight easy against Barrera.
Edwin Valero, Juan Diaz, Joel Casamayor and others in the division are good fighters, but the top guy is Marquez. A Khan versus Marquez fight would be a great one especially as the older Marquez has not shown that he has not slipped in any way. Khan defeating Marquez would prove that he is fighting a boxer in their prime.
Also a rematch with Prescott to avenge his only loss would put the demons to rest once and for all.
What next for Barrera? And should Khan seek a rematch with Prescott? Let us know what you think by filling in the feedback form below...
