Khan vs. Barrera: Post Fight Quotes

UK lightweight Amir Khan defeated Mexican boxing great Marco Antonio Barrera via a five round technical points decision on Saturday night at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England. Barrera sustained a bad cut from an accidental head class in round 1. Both boxers spoke to the media after the match.

Amir Khan, 20-1 (15)

“Since day one, since I turned professional I have been getting criticism. Today, I proved everyone wrong. I know I got beat by Breidis Prescott, but that was I mistake I made. I have said that it was a blessing in disguise what happened. Since then I have moved to Freddie Roach’s gym, the Wildcard and Freddie has just changed me as a fighter. You can see the difference in me now then before.

“I couldn’t get this wrong. This was make or break for me. Freddie said that to me. Freddie said, ‘it is make or break. If you lose this fight then pack your bags and forget about a world title fight’.

“The training I did in L.A was to hit and move, be sharp, be careful and be patient. I did the job. Every time I went into the corner, Freddie said the same. Get inside the ring, in the middle of the ring and do the job and the guy won’t hit you.

“I shut the critics up, I hope. It was a tough fight for me. I went in there and made it easy work. I am happy with the performance. I just want to thank Manchester and everyone behind me, all of the guys who have supported me all the way. My family and friends - I couldn’t do it without them.”

Marco Antonio Barrera, 65-7 (43)

“We came ready to fight and in the 1st round it was a head butt. It was called by the referee as a head butt. They didn’t stop the fight in the 1st round, I think they should have stopped it before because it was as big then in the 1st round as it was now.

“Definitely (I would have won), if I had my two eyes and if I didn’t have this blood. I couldn’t see Khan in the 1st round and I couldn’t see out of that eye.

“I didn’t even really feel his punches. He has got fast hands, but his punches did nothing to me. I really didn’t feel them. I just went a little crazy because I wanted to try to fight before they stopped the fight.

“I am just going to talk to my family. I feel good. What happened tonight was just with the cut. I am going to discuss it with my family and with Don King Productions and then we are going to go from there. I am just going to take a break now.”

Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer

“It was wonderful, it was a great plan and he worked it well. He is mature now. He is maturing more and more all the time. He can follow the game plan now and it was perfect.

“(Amir) He will be my next world champion for sure. No doubt about that.”

Frank Warren, promoter

“(Amir) He took the gamble, I made the match. I believe in Amir. I said it from the beginning. I believe in his ability and I was pleased tonight that he kept his discipline and his composure and showed us all what he can do – which is box. He is a good boxer. What he did at the end of the day was a fantastic job.

“The plan now as Freddie said is we are going to move him on and get him into a position to fight for a world title. That’s what he wants to be – a world champion. I think he is a world champion in waiting.”