Khan Earns 5th Round Technical Decision Over Barrera

Amir Khan overcame Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera by a technical decison in the fifth round after the fight was stopped following a accidental clashh of heads in the 1st round

Khan, who is hoping for a shot at the WBO lightweight world title, had the upper-hand from the beginning after an accidental collision left Barrera covered in blood and clearly hampered. However, the 35-year-old Mexican, a seven times world champion at three weights, fought on bravely at Manchester’s MEN Arena against the younger, faster and sharper Khan.

The 22-year-old from Bolton, who suffered a small cut to the left eye, was fighting for redemption after his loss at the hands of Breidis Prescott six months ago in the same ring and it is fair to say the Olympic silver medallist is back with a bang. The pressure was always on Barrera as Khan used a succession of fast jabs, along with hook combinations, to keep him on the defence, but at no point did Barrera look troubled.

Throughout the fight Khan appeared to be too fast and too quick footed for the 35 Barrera, even without the cut – Barrea would have struggled to cope with hand speed shown by Khan in the 5 rounds that the fight lasted. Teaming up with Roach has undoubted improved Khan as a fight and helped to gaurd against his “glass Jaw” by working on his defensive still. Khan promoter – Frank Warren has now said that he will look to secure Khan a world title shot by the end of the year.

While having Barrera’s name on your CV is impressive, fan of Khan should not get too carried away. Barrera is 35 and fought for most of his career at the lower weight, while Barrera was unable to test Khan – because he could not catch up with. We still need to know if Khan and aviod and take the puches of a fully blown Lightweight.

Munroe Retains European Title On Points

Rendall Munroe retained his European super-bantamweight title for the fourth time with a impressive unanimous decision over Kiko Martinez at the Barnsley Metrodome. Spain’s Martinez was out for revenge, having lost his crown to the Leicester southpaw a year ago in Nottingham.He started strongly and inflicted a cut over his opponent’s left eye but Munroe gradually took control and was well ahead on all three judges’ scorecards. He finished with a flourish to seal 116-112, 116-113 and 118-110 margins. Munroe, 28, had won his crown by a majority decision over Martinez and had clearly learned much in his three subsequent fights.

Two big shots from the heavy punching Spaniard in the first round suggested he would be up against it but Munroe regrouped superbly. Munroe continued to step up the pace down the stretch, finishing with two big rounds as his opponent sagged in the ropes. Following this impressive win, Munroe could soon be in line for a crack at a version of the “World Title”. Though Frank Mahoney – Munroe’s manager has suggested he will only put him in for a world title when he knows he can win one. At dig at rival Brian Peter putting Bernard Dunne in for a WBA title tilt against Ricardo Cordoba. Dunne was stopped in 1 round back in 2007 my Martinez.

Miguel Cotto Stops Jennings In 5 To Take Vacant WBO Title

Miguel Cotto stopped Britain’s Michael Jennings in the fifth round at New York’s Madison Square Garden to claim the vacant WBO title. The Puerto Rican made a slow start but took control of the bout in the second round with a barrage of body shots. The guld in class was evident with Jennings only every having fought at British domestic level, while Cotto has mixed it with some of the best fighters of his era.Jennings was knocked down twice in the fourth round, first with a body shot and then with a sweeping left hook. The former British champion bravely fought on but the fight was stopped after he went down for a third time. It had been a one-sided bout in front of a partisan crowd in New York, with Jennings only ever throwing an occasional jab and Cotto was able to pick him of at will. Jennings never really had the power in his right hand to earn Cotto’s respect – a shot that Margarito was able to use with devasting effect in Cotto’s only previous lose.
Marks had begun to appear on Jennings’ face by the beging of the fourth round and he caught a straight left on the nose at the start of that round which was the beginning of the end. Jennings, 31, was still trying to trade blows in the fifth but he was sent on to the ropes with a crunching right to the head, followed by another big left.

A straight right to the head then left a bloodied Jennings down on one knee and he looked across to his trainer Brian Hughes, who calmly motioned for him to stand up. But referee Benji Estevez had seen enough and called the fight off. After the fight Cotto stated his desire to face the winner of the Pacqciao Hatton fight set for the 2nd of May.

Campbell Wins But Still Loses Titles

Lightweight Nate Campbell has to work hard in claiming a majority decision against South Africa’s Ali Funeka in Florida. The American had been due to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO titles against Funeka but was stripped of all three belts for failing to make the weight on Friday. Campbell floored Funeka twice but could not finish off his durable opponent. One judge scored the bout 113-113 while the remaining two favoured Campbell by scores of 115-111 and 114-112.

“This guy was tough,” said the 36-year-old Campbell. “He could punch, take a shot.” Campbell waited almost a year to defend the WBA, IBF and WBO titles he won with a stunning upset of the previously unbeaten Juan Diaz last March only to lose them all before the fight even took place. Funeka would have claimed them had he won, but they are now vacant. Campbell says he now plans to move up a division in weight, this now leaves 3 belts up for grabs and could see Bristish fighter Amir Khan get his world title shot even sooner. Don’t be surprised if his fight with Barrera is bumped up to world title status.

Clinton Woods Beats Muriqi In Comeback Fight

Clinton Woods took a big step towards reclaiming his light-heavyweight world title after beating Elvir Muriqi in their eliminator fight in Jersey. Woods, outclassed by Antonio Tarver last April, had insisted he would retire if he could not overcome Muriqi.But the 36-year-old dominated Kosovan Muriqi throughout, using his greater reach and power shots to great effect. Muriqi, 29, did well to go the distance but Woods’ impressive show saw him take the decision 117-111 119-110 117-111.

The win sets up a title shot for Woods against current IBO and IBF champion Chad Dawson, and it was an excellent showing from a man who was embarrassed by Tarver last time out. After his defeat to Tarver in which Woods didi not look himeself, he decided to split from former trainer Richard Poxon, who is based at the Fight Academy gym in Sheffield, and moved to Hillsborough to link up with Rhodes.

And at the Hotel de France, Woods appeared a man back to his best as he picked his punches behind a fantastic jab, forcing Muriqi onto the ropes on numerous occasions in the early rounds. The ‘Kosovo Kid’ tried to keep in touch as the two felt each other out, but as the rounds progressed, Woods’s dominance became ever clearer.

A huge uppercut in the seventh underlined the Sheffield boxer’s growing superiority, and others in the eighth and 10th would surely have led to knockouts had Woods’s stamina allowed a more explosive finish.

As it was the Briton was happy to out-box Muriqi, whose nose was bleeding and left eye closing rapidly in the final rounds, until the final bell brought the inevitable result – a unanimous decision in Woods’s favour.