By Ronnie Nathanielsz

BRITISH lightweight Amir Khan said Manny Pacquiao was his inspiration in beating Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera by a fifth-round technical decision shutout at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Sunday, Manila time.

As a result, he wants to return the favor by helping him beat Ricky Hatton in their showdown in Las Vegas on May 2.

After beating a badly bloodied Barrera, who suffered a nasty gash on his forehead from an accidental clash of heads late in the opening round, Khan said he would love to return the favors Pacquiao had done him in the past.

Khan said he can do this by sparring with the Filipino icon during his preparation for the Hatton fight at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

He told Phil Barnett of Sporting Life that he beat Barrera ?the same way Manny beat him? hit him and move, hit him and move.?

The 22-year-old Olympic silver medalist, who sparred with Pacquiao when the world?s no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter was preparing for his battle with Oscar de la Hoya, revealed he spoke to the Pacman in the dressing room after the Barrera fight. ?He watched the fight in America and he was over the moon. It has paid off by listening to the right people.?

Stating that he would return to Los Angeles to spar with Pacquiao, who is preparing for the Hatton fight, Khan said it does him good as well. ?He?s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and if I can handle him and spar really well against him, then it?s going to take me to the next level.?

With the win, the youngster silenced his critics, who waded into him after he suffered a shocking 54-second KO at the hands of unheralded Breidis Prescott last year.

?I?d love to help him [Pacquiao] because he?s a friend. We have a good chat, we go for a run together in the mountains. He helps me out with some good advice and it?s good to have someone to look up to.?

Khan was also full of praise for trainer Freddie Roach with whom he worked for six weeks at the Wild Card gym in the buildup to the Barrera fight. Roach flew to Manchester one week before the fight to fine tune their game plan and work in Khan?s corner.

Roach, who requested Khan to help prepare Pacquiao for the battle against Khan?s fellow Briton and International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Hatton, told Sporting Life, ?I love using Amir because when you can handle his speed, you are sharp and can deal with anybody.?

Roach conceded that while Khan doesn?t have the exact same style as Hatton, ?work is work and getting sharp is part of the game. Amir and Pacquiao have very similar qualities and when they work together in the gym they are unbelievable.?