The top of the charts isn’t for everybody.
In fact, upon reaching big stages with bright lights, some performers indicate though performance that they’re better equipped for the smaller venues and the less-revealing glares.
Amir Khan, though, insists he’s ready for a close-up.
The 28-year-old Englishman with Pakistani roots takes what he hopes will be the final intermediate step before a full-on star turn this Friday night, when he meets former 140-pound title claimant Chris Algieri atop a two-bout Spike TV broadcast from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The show goes live at 9 p.m., and, assuming he successfully takes care of a once-beaten Long Island-reared opponent, Khan figures he’ll be on a more significant marquee the next time around.
And what’s more, he’s already sure he belongs there.
?It’s nice to be known as a star and to have people mentioning my name as one of the big stars in boxing,? he told CBSSports.com. ?I’m in a really good position and it provides some really strong motivation to fight to look really good in this fight. And then, hopefully, it’ll take me to the next level.?
As graduating exams go, Algieri could be a tricky one.
The awkward, movement-centric 31-year-old won his first 19 fights in anonymous fashion before picking up the WBO’s junior welterweight title with a surprising split decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in June 2014. Algieri was on the floor twice in the first round, but recovered quickly and used quicker hands and feet to bedevil the largely one-dimensional Siberian for the balance of a 12-round fight.
Two judges gave Algieri the nod by two points, while the third had Provodnikov up by eight.
Algieri translated the win into a pay-per-view match with Manny Pacquiao five months later in China, where he was bounced off the canvas six times on the way to losing a wide scorecard verdict.
Provided he wins Friday, Khan is perceived as leading a short list of candidates for what could be Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s career swan song in September.
Khan won a Mayweather-orchestrated fan poll for a match in May 2014, but was passed over for Argentine roughneck Marcos Maidana, who was coming off a career-defining victory over self-proclaimed Mayweather prot?g? Adrien Broner.
Khan took himself out of the running for a Mayweather fight four months later because his observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan — during which participants do not eat during daylight hours — would have unduly impacted his training schedule.
Mayweather ultimately opted for a rematch with Maidana instead, then followed it with a long-awaited fight with Pacquiao four weeks ago.
Mayweather said after that win that he’d go for the final time in September, and Khan said that this year’s holy month — which runs from June 17 to July 17 — will not impact his late-summer availability.
So if Floyd calls after Friday night’s fight, he’ll be happy to answer the phone.
?Some fighters let it get to them in a way and they’ll fold because there’s too much pressure. But that’s not me. I’m used to it,? said Khan, who won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics and turned pro as an 18-year-old the following summer.
?It’s been crazy for me since I became a professional, I was a young world champion (age 22) and the pressure really helps me to concentrate.
?It’s always going to be there, but I’ve learned to live with it and to use it as a motivation.?
