It shouldn?t come as a surprise that Amir ?King? Khan is one of the world?s elite boxers. He is, after all, extremely fast, has terrific footwork, hits hard and has an extensive amateur pedigree that culminated with a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
He is, in a word, a thoroughbred.
But for some odd reason, Khan is most closely associated with a Sept. 6, 2008, fight in London when he was knocked out in 54 seconds by little known Breidis Prescott. That night was hardly a bright, shining moment for Khan, but a little perspective would have been in order. More From Kevin Iole
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Unfortunately for Khan, there was no perspective forthcoming. He was derided as a fraud and took a beating in the media, particularly among his hometown British media.
Khan got caught with a big punch early that he never recovered from and he was counted out after the second knockdown. It happens. Rarely does a knockout that quick signify anything more than that the person who got knocked out got caught with one heck of a punch. Prescott is a strong puncher who hurt Khan with a left, then dropped him with a crushing left-right combination. For that, Prescott deserves kudos.
Let?s not forget, though, to give Khan some credit, too. He didn?t let that night define him and has used it as an impetus to turn himself into a star.
He defends his World Boxing Association super lightweight title against Paul McCloskey at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday in a bout that will be televised as part of an HBO doubleheader with the understanding that big things are in the offing.
?The plan is to put him in with (World Boxing Council/World Boxing Organization champion) Timothy Bradley in July,? Khan promoter Oscar De La Hoya said. ?I want to see him clean out that division and then go after (Floyd) Mayweather.?
Khan, 24, is now 24-1 with 17 knockouts and has gotten better each time out in his last several fights. He, like world No. 1 Manny Pacquiao, is trained by Freddie Roach. Khan has traveled the world with Roach and Pacquiao and has had a first-hand seat for Pacquiao?s phenomenal rise.
The secret to Pacquiao?s success, Khan said, is simple, and it?s one that he?s taken to himself: He listens.
?Training with Manny Pacquiao, things rub off, and what he does best, I believe, and why he is the champion he is, is that he listens,? Khan said. ?When he?s in the gym, that?s work time and he wants to learn and to get better. And so, he pays very close attention to what Freddie tells him.
?I?d be a fool not to do the same thing. I mean, we?re talking about a guy who has made himself into one of the legends. He shocks you every fight with how he?s cleaned things up and gotten better.?
Khan has long since proven himself to Roach, who said he can?t believe the dedication the young fighter has shown in following him all over the world. He began to prepare for McCloskey in England. He then flew to Los Angeles to work with Roach. When Roach had to pack and head to the Philippines to prepare Pacquiao for his May 7 bout with Shane Mosley, Khan went with him and kept up his training there. And then Khan returned to England, where he had a lot of promotional responsibilities, to conclude his training.
That globetrotting didn?t escape Roach?s notice.
?He?s been dragged all over the world and he never complains and he always gets in there and gives me everything he has,? Roach said. ?He is very dedicated and he is very committed to taking advantage of everything he has. He is very fast and he has a lot of power, a lot of the same attributes that Manny has.
?But he?s still young and learning. It took me and Manny eight years for it to really seem like it was coming together. That was the (David) Diaz fight (in 2008). He started to come together then and he?s built on it each fight. And I think Amir is where Manny was at some point a few years back. He?s picking up something here and something there and at some point, it?s all going to click.?
De La Hoya believes it?s already showing. Khan has won six consecutive fights since the Prescott loss, including wins over four reigning or former world champions. De La Hoya said he believes Khan has better footwork and faster hands than Mayweather, which, while it is likely just promoter hyperbole, is an indicator of just how quick Khan is and how naturally boxing comes to him.
Khan is able to set his feet and throw in a millisecond, which never allows an opponent to relax.
Though guys like Bradley and Mayweather are far more accomplished then McCloskey, Khan isn?t letting the chatter distract him from the task at hand. Without a win over the 22-0 McCloskey, there is no Bradley fight and there is no more talk of a potential Mayweather fight.
McCloskey has shown little power and hasn?t beaten anyone of note, but Khan is the biggest fight of his career and a win would be life-altering.
?I always trust in myself but I?m going to shock the boxing world this weekend when I?m victorious,? McCloskey said.
It?s not nearly as big a fight to Khan, except in the sense that it?s a bridge to bigger days ahead. He paid close attention to Pacquiao and noted that Pacquiao never takes any opponent lightly.
?I worked harder than ever in this camp because I know now I?m the big name in the division and one of the big names in the sport and everyone around this weight is looking to beat me,? Khan said. ?I?ve got a target on me. It?s made me want to go to the gym even more and work even harder than I have. There are great boxers out there who are working very hard to put themselves in a position to take my title and steal my limelight.
?That?s driven me. I have focused on being the best I?ve ever been for this fight, because the only way good things happen to me is if I perform at a top level against (McCloskey). That?s what I intend to do.?
