WBA super champion Amir Khan began sparring this week ahead of his April 16th title defense against European light welterweight champion Paul McClosley at the Manchester Evening News arena in his native England.
Currently training at the Planet Jupiter gym in Manilla before joining Manny Pacquiao’s camp in Baguio City next week, Khan sparred with Filipino prospects Al Sabaupan (15-0, 11KOs) and Jay Solmiano (10-0, 6KOs) this week under the watchful eye of trainer Freddie Roach, who he shares with modern day Filipino great Manny Pacquiao.
Subaupan at just 22 years of age has already held the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title, and has since been rapidly moving up the IBF world rankings. Solmiano, also a lightweight, currently holds the Philippines Games & Amusement Board (GAB) lightweight title, and has finished his last two opponents in the first round.
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Although Khan and Manny Pacquiao will once again share a training camp, the likelihood is that sparring between the pair will be only minimal. The reason being that Khan’s fight is a month before Pacquiao’s, and by the time the Filipino has gotten into shape for his May bout against Shane Mosley and is ready to begin sparring, Khan’s fight will likely be only days away.
Should all go as planned for Pacquiao against Shane Mosley, bouts against either Juan Manuel Marquez or possibly the long awaited showdown with Floyd Mayweather are possibilities for the end of the year.
Should Khan beat McCloskey as odds-makers expect, a unification bout against WBO/WBC champion Tim Bradley is likely for later on this summer, which would make the winner the undisputed number one light welterweight in the world, and potentially pave the way in Khan’s case at least for a move up to welterweight.
Nick Geraldo, Pittsburgh: “I hope Subaupan and Solmiano aren’t thrown in against top competition before they’re ready. So many good Filipino fighters are used as fodder and ruin their potential”
