Saul Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso has spoken of the sense of revenge Mexicans would feel if their compatriot defeats Amir Khan.
Khan in 2009 effectively ended the career of the great Marco Antonio Barrera in a victory the Mexican felt was unfair and which ruined his dream of becoming the proud fighting country’s first four-weight world champion.
A clash of heads in the first round opened a significant cut on Barrera’s forehead in their lightweight match-up, and contributed to Khan building a comfortable lead by the time heavy bleeding caused the fight to be waved off in the fifth.
The angry Barrera felt the fight should have been stopped inside the first four, when had it done so it would have been ruled a no decision.
He fought only twice more in unremarkable affairs considered unceremonious for the conclusion of such a fine career that brought world titles at super-featherweight, featherweight and super-bantamweight, and Khan’s contribution to that has not been forgotten.
Asked if victory for Alvarez would represent a form of revenge, Reynoso responded: “Definitely, it did hurt, it did hurt.
“Because Marco is one of the top names in Mexican boxing, and at the moment he was still at one of the top levels.
“That’s when we realised who Amir Khan was after that victory. I think after Saturday night it would give that ingredient to the fans, that satisfaction back.”
