Amir Khan to Fight Marco Antonio Barrera

After eliminating Oisin Fagan in two rounds during his previous fight, British boxing sensation Amir Khan looks set to step up to bigger opposition as his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera hits the back pages today. The veteran Mexican boxer, who has worked in several weight classes below lightweight, will attempt to test Khan and get a bit more momentum back in his career.So far, the bookmakers are favouring Khan by a fairly solid margin, with 888sport listing him at 4/6 to secure the outright victory. A Khan points win pays out at 11/8, so it seems as though the bookies are confident that this one will likely not go the distance. Examining the round-by-round betting reveals odds between 20/1 and 33/1 with the odds at their shortest in the fourth to eighth round. Clearly, if Khan is to win by KO, TKO or DQ it will be in these middle rounds. A first round knockout will pay 33/1 and if Khan secures another 2nd round knockout, you'll be paid at 25/1. Barrera's odds of a knockout, TKO or DQ are significantly longer with a range of 33/1 to 66/1 depending on the round. The shortest odds for a Barrera victory come in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds. Should Khan get through those early rounds unscathed, he will likely coast to victory and KO Barrera in the seventh or eighth round. A Barrera win outright pays 11/10. Interestingly enough, Barrera was twice defeated by high-profile boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao throughout his long and illustrious career. This is a battle of youth and potential coming up against experience and pragmatism. I've got to back Amir on this one, as I think his quick-moving style will be too much for Barrera who isn't used to fighting at lightweight, much less against a lightweight as skilled as Khan.RECOMMENDATIONS:Back Amir Khan to KO Barrera in the 4th or 7th round.