YES, Amir Khan won the Big One.
It was even bigger than his boxing silver in 2004 Athens.
But the biggest winner in Khan?s recent five-round destruction of Marco Antonio Barrera was Freddie Roach.
Roach was Amir?s chief corner man when Khan produced his obra maestra of a win before a throng of 22,000.
And because Roach helped concoct the spectacle right in the heart of Ricky Hatton?s homeland in Manchester, England, the victory sent a jarring message to The Hitman.
And I won?t be surprised if Khan?s triumph has likewise given Floyd Mayweather Sr. the so-called butterflies in his stomach.
?Amir is my next superstar,? said Roach after his ward?s victory. ?When Manny (Pacquiao) beat Barrera in 2003 (11th-round TKO), that triggered Manny?s rise to stardom.?
Khan, 22, earned the TKO win when referee Dave Parris stopped the fight in the fifth upon doctor?s advice as blood oozed almost unstoppably from wounds in the forehead and eye of Barrera, 35.
It was a spectacular comeback for Khan; his last fight saw him lose via an embarrassing knockout in 54 seconds of the first round.
More than that, however, Khan?s demolition of Barrera has inflicted a psychological blow on Mayweather Sr., Hatton?s trainer for the Pacquiao fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
It proved once more that Roach deserved each word etched in his Trainer of the Year trophy, clinched not just once or twice but thrice already.
In a short while, Khan, who dazed, dazzled and puzzled Barrera with his hand speed and winged feet, will be back as Pacquiao?s sparring mate in L.A.
?Amir?s speed is what Manny needs to reinforce his arsenal against Hatton,? said Roach.
Hard as a knuckle to dispute that.
