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Integrated Sports will distribute a world-class pay-per-view card headlined by Amir Khan versus “The Baby Faced Assassin”, Marco Antonio Barrera, on Saturday, March 14 live from The MEN Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Khan, 19-1 (15), a 2004 Olympic Silver Medallist, defends his WBA International lightweight title against seven-time world champion Barrera 65-6, (42), in the 12-round main event.
The two other PPV fights will be former WBO cruiserweight title-holder Enzo Maccarinelli, 29-2 (22), against NABO champ Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi, 13-1-3 (5), for the WBO cruiserweight championship, while WBO super middleweight champion Nicky “Cookie” Cook, 29-1 (16), defends his title belt against undefeated No. 1 contender Roman “Rocky” Martinez, 21-0-1 (12).
“We’re thrilled to be distributing this sensational tripleheader to North American boxing fans,” Integrated Sports president Doug Jacobs said. “The main event is a potential classic match-up between a top prospect, Khan, and veteran warrior, Barrera.
“Fans are very interested to see how Khan has improved since he started working with trainer Freddy Roach as well as what future Hall of Famer Barrera has left. Maccarinelli vs. Afolabi and Cook vs. Martinez shape-up as two very fan-friendly bouts, too, and either could be main events.”
The 22-year-old Khan is coming off of a win by second-round TKO of Oisin Fagan for the WBA International title last December, which was three months after Amir suffered his only pro loss to Breidis Prescott.
Khan, rated No. 9 by the WBO and No. 13 by the IBF, has been training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he’s gained invaluable experience sparring with the likes of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Barrera, 35, has held world titles in three different weight classes during his 19-year pro career. He recently suffered a scare when he was cut from a head-butt, which temporarily jeopardized his March 21 showdown with Kahn, that lead to a win by third-round disqualification. B
arrera holds wins against world champions and/or challengers such as Erik Morales (twice), Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, and Rocky Juarez (twice).
Maccarinelli, fighting out of his native Wales, has only one blemish on his pro record, losing a year ago to David Haye in their title unification bout. “Macca,” ranked No. 3 by the WBO and No. 6 by The Ring, during his 2006-2008 WBO title reign defeated Mohamed Azzaoui, Wayne Braithwite, Bobby Gunn, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez and Mark Hobson (twice).
The WBO No. 5 rated London-born Afolabi, now living in California, captured the NABO crown last April, stopping previously unbeaten Eric Fields in the 10th round.
Cook won the WBO super featherweight title in his last fight in September, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Alex Arthur in the MEN Arena. The former European champion is rated No. 6 by The Ring.
In addition to being the WBC’s top contender, Puerto Rican boxer Martinez is rated No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the IBF and No., 9 by The Ring. The reigning NABO super featherweight title-holder also held the WBO Inter-Continental and WBO Latino belts.
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
