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It takes a rare fighter to constantly make the headlines in the sport of boxing when their next fight is still several months away. WBA Jr. Welterweight champion Amir Khan is that type of fighter, as the Lancashire, United Kingdom native is one of the most skillful titlists inside of the ropes while being extremely engaging in his day to day life.
A superstar in his home country, Khan made his American debut this past May with an 11th round thrashing of ultra-confident Brooklynite Paulie Malignaggi inside the theatre at Madison Square Garden. The 23-year old?s presence in the US is starting to weigh heavily and this past weekend Khan was in Las Vegas, Nevada to check out Juan Manuel Marquez? rematch with Juan Diaz at the Mandalay Bay.
Khan had a keen eye on the Marquez-Diaz II affair because there have been rumors that he would be next in line to face Marquez if the Mexico City fighter was victorious. Khan seemed to genuinely enjoy his time in Vegas, from interacting with throbs of fans, chilling in his luxury suite at the Bellagio, and even dropping $5,500 on a new designer jacket. But asked if it was his first time in Nevada the charismatic star shook his head.
?No, no I?ve been hear about ten times now,? Khan told the Examiner. ?You know I?ve been fighting over here and I want to have a big, big fight in Vegas. I think I have the power to bring a lot of Brits over to Vegas just like they came for Ricky Hatton.?
While the anticipation in the city towards the Marquez-Diaz II pay per view event was obvious, their was just as much talk going on about the recent fallout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in efforts towards making a November 13th showdown between the two superstars. Khan is slightly bewildered at the turn of events but feels the fight will happen when the moment is right.
?It?s crazy,? Khan stated. ?I think it was such a big fight and it needs to happen. I?m friends with both fighters and I think it would be good for boxing if it happens. [Floyd] is not afraid he just has his mind on other things. They are both great fighters and Floyd hasn?t ducked anyone and Manny hasn?t ducked anyone. I don?t think it?s Floyd I think it?s the people around him.?
Pacquiao instead has a date lined up with former champion Antonio Margarito, a man looking to redeem his image following a one-year suspension from the California State Athletic Commission. While some are disappointed in the matchup Khan feels that every fight is important in its own ways.
?Manny is the fighter right now,? he continued. ?I think whoever his promoter puts him in with is the fight. At the end of the day every fight is hard and I think Manny needs to be in good condition if he wants to win.?
Khan went on to state that he spoke to his trainer Freddie Roach recently and that the two men will soon be discussing the particulars for his next training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. It is unknown who Khan will be training for when that moment comes but when eyeing his future a few fighters stand out for further down the road.
?I think the biggest threat at this time, a guy who would give me a good fight would be Devon Alexander,? Khan says of the IBF and WBC champion. ?Then you have [Marcos] Maidana who is a very strong boy. Heavy handed but he has to catch you if he wants to hit you. I think I got great tactics to beat him. But I really want to keep my eye on Devon and see if he can get by [Andriy] Kotelnik. I think in the boxing game you wan these big fights and in the next twelve months the big fight would be me and Devon Alexander.?
One man who has been trading barbs online with Khan is WBO champion Timothy Bradley. The two men have had some harsh words for one another in recent weeks and Khan feels that the Palm Springs, California fighter isn?t anything special.
?I think the others guys would be easy,? Khan said. ?Timothy would be easy. I have the speed, I have the movement, and the power. I don?t think he?s ever fought anyone like me with my style. Styles make fights and I think my style would work well against his.?
Khan is riding such a high at the moment that it would be easy to forget his devastating first round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in September of 2008. The defeat was a crushing blow to Khan at the time but since then he has regrouped and flourished as a fighter, winning five in a row while capturing his beloved WBA bauble. Khan insists it was a learning experience that was necessary if he was to progress as a fighter.
?It takes a lot for a fighter to come back and it shows as a fighter if you really got it or you don?t. Some fighters might not ever come back the same. I bounced back and the defeat I think was a blessing in disguise. In a way I want to thank Prescott for that defeat because I don?t think I would be here if it didn?t happen.?
At 23 years old, Amir Khan is one of the rising stars in the sport. There seem to be a lot of options for him at the moment and whoever he fights next, the world will be watching. Click on the image gallery below for a picture by picture look at Amir Khan?
