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Pacquiao backing Amir

Image: Khan: too quick, says Manny

Manny Pacquiao says Amir Khan will beat Marco Antonio Barrera and go on to become world lightweight champion.

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Amir will beat Barrera and rule the world, says Manny

Manny Pacquiao is backing stablemate Amir Khan to beat Marco Antonio Barrera. The Filipino phenomenon, in England to promote his May 2 showdown with Ricky Hatton, has been sparring with Khan at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Hollywood. Pacquiao has of course beaten Barrera twice under Roach's guidance on his way to becoming the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. And he believes that Khan has what it takes to complete a hat-trick - and then go on to become a world champion. "I believe Amir Khan can be a world champion and not only beat Barrera but all the other good fighters in his weight division," he told skysports.com. According to eye-witness accounts, even Pacquiao struggled with Khan's handspeed in the ring in their earlier sparring sessions. And while Roach expects Barrera to do what Pacman has done and work out how to cope with it, the Filipino believes speed could well do for the Mexican legend. "It's good to spar with Amir because he's fast," said Pacquiao. "He can move fast, he's a quick fighter - and he is a good fighter."

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