Left field

Saturday’s highly anticipated lightweight clash has left Amir Khan in world title contention, Marco Antonio Barrera possibly thinking pipe and slippers and me rather disappointed.

Khan did look good in his five-round stoppage of the Mexican but the reaction of the British press to the victory seemed a bit overdramatic considering Barrera could not see out of his left eye for four and a half rounds.

Nevertheless the Daily Mail described him as “awesome”, the Guardian described him as “magnificent” and The Sun called him a “bloody marvel”.

After Barrera sustained such a deep cut from the accidental clash of heads in the opening minutes, the fight was over. The blood gushing from his head left the Mexican claiming the fight should have been ruled a no contest.

“I got caught with a headbutt in the first round and it was called by the ref as a headbutt — but he did not stop the fight in the first round, “I don’t know why,” he said.

“If I’d have had both my eyes the fight wouldn’t have ended this way. I couldn’t see the guy from the first round, the blood was in my eye and I just couldn’t see with it.”

I sympathise with Barrera but he won’t get a rematch.

Khan has the “w” next to his name and now has the opportunity to throw himself into the big time and his next fight should be a world title shot.

WBA and WBO champion Juan Manuel Marquez, former undisputed lightweight king Juan Diaz or Cuban Joel Casamayor are all possible opponents.

Pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao, Khan’s sparring partner, is another name being mentioned but only after the Filipino has finished his dally into other weight classes.

Barrera gave Khan a big name springboard. Can he make the most of that now?

PHOTO: Britain’s Amir Khan punches Mexico’s Marco Antonio Barrera during their fight in Manchester, northern England, March 14, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble