Amir Khan has admitted that he had been ?killing and starving? himself in the past to drop to the light-welterweight limit of 140lbs but he said he feels powerful and rejuvenated ahead of his return to the ring, this time as a welterweight.
After a 15-month hiatus and four consecutive fight camps without a contest, there is huge interest in the former world champion?s bout with Luis Collazo on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather?s title defence against former Khan victim Marcos Maidana, in Las Vegas, a week on Saturday.
Khan believes the meeting with the tough Puerto Rican is all about getting his name back in lights and that he desperately needs a dazzling performance to make people believe in him again. There can be no papering over the cracks this time.
?It?s my first fight at 147 pounds, and I feel much better at this weight,? Khan said. ?To make 140 pounds, I was just killing myself. I used to be at least 12 to 15 pounds over the weight, a week or two before the fight, and it was just too much to lose.
?I used to look at myself in the mirror, and just think ?how am I going to lose that weight?? I could never put the nutrients back into my body within 24 hours. I was putting too much stress on my body. Killing and starving yourself to make the weight limit hurts you in a fight week. It makes you weaker, and you can get hurt easily.?
The break from the ring, he explained, had given his body ?a chance to fill out?. He said: ?That?s why we decided to move up to 147. I think I?ll be a much better fighter at welterweight.?
He needs to improve on his last four outings, two wins and two losses. ?There are going to be a lot of people, a lot of viewers watching the fight and they want to see how I perform. But with my style and Collazo?s style ? he comes to fight ? I think we can definitely steal the show.
?It takes a little bit of pressure off of me not being top of the bill and not doing everything to sell the fight and to promote the fight.
?This time I can sit back and chill, so I?m just going to kind of enjoy the show.
?We know Luis Collazo is a tough guy, and he?s coming off a good win against Victor Ortiz. We were very close to getting a Floyd Mayweather fight, but things happen for a reason. This is only the way forward for me and it?s a way towards the super fight against Mayweather.?
Khan, who becomes a father for the first time at the end of May, has also heeded the words of Ricky Hatton, who won a tight decision over Collazo eight years ago. ?Ricky always tells me to stick to my boxing and be smart and not to go into a war.
?I?ve got range and the movement and if it works, I should stick to that more. Ricky is a good friend and he?s always had good things to say about me and always very supportive. He also agrees that Luis Collazo is a tough guy and we can?t take him lightly.?
