Khan: Pacquiao’s tips instrumental in beating Barrera

MANILA, Philippines – In a way, Manny Pacquiao was also instrumental in helping sparring partner Amir Khan beat fading Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last Saturday in Manchester (Sunday in Manila). Khan revealed that the Filipino pound-for-pound king had served as his inspiration against the Baby Faced Assasin and Pacquiao’s tips significantly contributed to his fifth-round technical decision disposal of Barrera. Pacquiao and Khan both train under Freddie Roach with the 22-year-old Bolton fighter even serving as the Pac Man’s spar-mate while he was preparing for his megabuck fight with Oscar De La Hoya last year. Pacquiao knows the formula to beat Barrera all too well as he completely dominated Barrera in their two previous clashes. "He (Pacquiao) helps me out with some good advice, and it's good to have someone to look up to," the triumphant Khan acknowledged in a report posted by the Sporting Life. Khan found Pacquaio’s tips in handy against the 35-year-old Barrera. The Olympic silver medalist dominated Barrera all throughout and was comfortably ahead in the scorecards when the fight was stopped in the fifth stanza due to a cut above Barrera’s right eye, caused by an accidental clash in the first round. "When I was speaking to Manny he said that's the way to beat him – hit him and move, hit him and move. And that's what we did," added Khan, who even spoke to Pacquiao over the phone after the fight. "It has paid off by listening to the right people," he added. To return the favor, Khan said he would love to help Pacquiao get into top form for his upcoming fight, despite the fact that the Filipino’s next foe, Ricky Hatton, is a fellow British. For Khan, sparring with Pacquiao serves a double purpose. "Yes, it does me good as well," said Khan. "He's the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world - and if I can handle him and spar really well against him, then it's going to take me to the next level," he was quoted by Sporting Life as saying. "I'd love to help him, because he's a friend," he added. Pacquiao battles Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, bidding to wrest the Mancunian’s International Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine world junior welterweight title. He is set to be rejoined at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood this week by Roach, who had to leave camp to be at Khan’s corner. –GMANews.TV