Awesome Khan cuts the mustard

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Khan, 22, was back at Manchester's MEN Arena seeking to overcome the heartache of last September's defeat by Breidis Prescott at the same venue.

And he did that in style, comfortably out-boxing the Mexican before a cut suffered in the first round eventually brought the end in the fifth after going to the scorecards.

Khan began the first round measured without being negative and was firing off lightning-quick volleys. Two excellent right hands landed and Barrera also found the target occasionally without hurting his man.

But Barrera had suffered a cut as he took several hard left hooks and a decent right and ended the round with a bad gash over his left eye - close to an old wound suffered in his last fight. Concerns about the injury proved to be well-founded as blood streamed down his face in the second round.

In the third Khan took some decent shots to head and body and did not seem overly concerned with protecting a supposedly weak chin. Barrera could only really see from one eye, however, and boxed, moved and showboated before landing another flurry which rocked Barrera back.

Referee Dave Parris interrupted the fourth round to have Barrera's cut looked at by the ringside doctor and despite the severity of the injury, the fight carried on.

Again Parris paused the action in the fifth to have the cut looked at and this time, with blood literally coursing down his face, the end finally came. To the surprise of many at ringside the cut was ruled an accidental clash so the fight went to the scorecards, with the classy Khan winning by 50-44 and 50-45 twice.

Khan told BBC Radio Five Live: "I felt so completely easy, catching him with jabs. I felt like I was on a better level than him. The jabbing and patience - I felt so strong. You could see the difference.

"I had to take some shots in that match. I made some mistakes in the past and I'm not going to make them again. This was a make or break fight for Amir Khan."