Report on Khan vs. Barrera: Coming of Age

By Mike Sempervive

Eight years ago, veteran Marco Antonio Barrera, with his career down turning, was handpicked to serve as an impressive niche on the record of a burgeoning British fighter who had dreams of greatness. Twelve lopsided rounds later, his future became resuscitated, while the career of Sheffield phenom Prince Naseem Hamed – literally – crashed. Yesterday, the 35-year old Barrera, who has claimed five major title belts during four reigns in three divisions, answered the call to travel to M.E.N. Arena in Manchester to face off against another young British star, Amir Khan.

But, unlike Hamed, Khan entered the bout against the future Hall of Famer with a career that has already reached a crossroad. Heavily hyped by promoter Frank Warren, and his main sponsor Reebok, Khan’s every move has been held under a microscope by the U.K. boxing media, interest which began almost as soon as he announced he was turning pro after the 2004 Athens Olympics (where he won a silver medal). At only the tender age of 22, many awaited the result of last night’s event so they could begin their obituary on the Bolton fighter, readying to dismiss his legacy as just another guy whose style outweighed his substance.

It’s just good for Khan that new trainer Freddie Roach knows something about substance.

Six months after being embarrassed at the same venue, Khan entered the arena to a raucous split opinion by the fans – while his legendary Mexican foe was universally cheered. But, by the time the night was over, many – though, not all – of those who cat-called their countryman were respectfully behind him again, as they watched him get back on track by dominating Barrera and winning a technical decision, when the bout was stopped at 2:36 of round five.

While not doing anything ascetically impressive, Khan did what he need to, showcasing a renewed speed and accuracy to his punches, and utilizing his four-inch height, and two-inch reach (which looked more like six) advantage, to keep Barrera at bay. Almost immediately, Barrera was sent backpedaling due to the confident Khan moving forward, fighting big, and neutralizing any Barrera head-shots with a good closed defense – probably the most important facet that the California-based Roach is working with Khan on, so that 54-second, near-career killing, pay-per-view debut, KO losses – like last September’s to Breidis Prescott never happen again.

Barrera attempted to get out of the gate fast, coming forward with punches, but he was easily evaded and countered by the faster Khan, who then proceeded to easily take control of the ring, keeping Barrera at bay with good defense, and sharp punches that hit their mark. With a little over a minute remaining in the first, the two unintentionally clashed heads during an exchange, causing a wicked cut to be opened on the very top right of Barrera’s hairline (the second straight fight that the veteran has suffered such a fate). Barrera fought gamely for the rest of the round, but when he came out for the second and it looked like the corner had barely worked on the wound, it was obvious that the fight wouldn’t be going the distance.

In the second, Khan pounded away, causing the blood to smear down the entire side of Barrera’s face, and making one think a little bit about the time another Mexican legend (Julio Cesar Chavez) suffered the same type of fate against another golden upstart (Oscar De La Hoya). In the third, Khan ramped up the pressure, and the precision of his punches, making an already tough situation border on impossible for Barrera. Halfway through the fourth round, the ringside doctor checked the cut that seemed to have annoyed Barrera far more than hurt him, and he ruled the fight could continue.

After more of the same punishment was dished out in round five, the doctor checked the cut again and made the determination that the fight should be stopped. Because it was an accidental headbutt that caused the cut, and four rounds had been completed, the fight went to the scorecards where Khan ran way with a unanimous technical decision (with of scores of 50-44, 50-45, 50-45).

With the win, Khan moves to 20 wins (15 by KO) and 1 loss (by KO), and adds the superfluous WBO Intercontinental lightweight (135-pound) title to his equally superfluous WBA International lightweight belt. Barrera, fighting for the second time under the Don King banner in an attempt to hold out hope for one more big chance, falls to 65 wins (43 by KO), 7 losses (1 by KO), and one no contest.

The show, a production of Sky Box Office pay-per-view, was distributed to North America via New Jersey-based Integrated Sports, for a going rate of $24.95. But, despite the main event, the night as a whole was quite disastrous for longtime promoter Frank Warren’s dwindling stable of fighters.

His cruiserweight charge, the Enzo Calzaghe-trained, Enzo Maccarinelli – also on the comeback trial after being blasted in two rounds by David Haye last March – seeing his career go careening off-course again. The Welsh fighter tired terribly against Freddie Roach-trained Ola Afolabli, and was knocked out in highlight-reel fashion by a right-hand to the cheek at 1:50 of round nine. Maccarinelli looked sluggish, and was stunned with a punch at the end of round three, that may have sent him wobbling if not for his glove being caught up on the top rope.

Despite winning a majority of the rounds, though not by much, due to throwing more accurate punches at a higher volume, The Ring magazine number six 200 pound contender never could hurt Afolabi  (who didn’t have Roach in his corner due to the trainer preparing Khan), and strangely chose to try and fight the former British-resident inside. Maccaranelli took that course, despite seemingly winning on points, and it playing right into what Afolabi wanted, knowing that the Welsh fighter didn’t have enough strength to seriously hurt him. With the win, the eccentric Afolabi moves to 14 (6 KOs)-1 (by decision)-3, and is in line at a WBO cruiserweight title shot, while the 29 (22 by KO)-3 (all by KO) Maccaranelli’s future is up in the air.

After the bout, Maccaranelli claimed that “he didn’t do one round of sparring,” according to Warren. A statement disputed by his trainer, who said he had done as much sparring for the bout as any other. The Swansea-born fighter also claimed, according to the BBC, that “Enzo (Calzaghe) didn't have a tape of the guy until fight night so we didn't see who we were up against until two hours before the fight. A fighter should know who he is up against six weeks before the fight.”

In more bad news for Warren, two other charges also bit the dust. Nicky Cook lost his WBO super featherweight (130 pound) belt to Puerto Rican Roman Martinez, when he was knocked out in the fourth round. And Commonwealth light middleweight (154-pound) champion Bradley Pryce was upended by prospect Matthew Hall, in a failed seventh title defense.

Cook, who had Martinez reeling at the end of the second round following two left hooks, left his head down and his eyes closed, allowing Martinez to land flush with two quick left hands that put Cook down for a nine count. Cook would only last a few more seconds before once-again being felled with a left hand, causing the referee to stop the bout at 2:20 of round four. Martinez remains undefeated at 20-0-1, with 13 KO’s, while Cook, who upset Alex Arthur in September to win the title, falls to 29-2, and suffers his second KO loss in his last four fights.

Earlier on the card, Pryce was waived off with one second remaining in the second round, after being put on the canvas three times by the Manchester native. Pryce tried to feign confidence after being dropped the first time, but was overwhelmed with a barrage from Hall that quickly sent him down two more times.