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Oscar De La Hoya: King Khan reminds me of Muhammad Ali - he can be a boxing superstar
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The Golden Boy chief claims Khan's hand speed in flooring Luis Collazo in his last fight reminded him of Ali and says he has the talent to be one of the greats
High praise: Khan has been likened to Ali by De La Hoya
As pats on the back go for Amir Khan, they do not come much more hefty than Oscar De La Hoya likening him to the legendar Muhammad Ali.
And in a further boost, De La Hoya has vowed to do all he can to land the Bolton fighter his dream shot at Floyd Mayweather Junior if he beats Devon Alexander on Saturday.
He claims Khan's hand speed in flooring Luis Collazo in his last fight reminded him of Ali and says he has the talent to be one of the greats.
“When I saw Collazo fall down, I instantly thought about Muhammad Ali against Sonny Liston,” said De La Hoya, who is Khan's promoter. “It was real quick.
“Amir Khan is just right at the peak of his career. I truly feel that Amir Khan is just beginning. I truly feel that Amir Khan, if he keeps winning, if he keeps on getting into these big fights that are promised, I really do feel that Amir Khan can be one of the top fighters of all time.
“He has the passion for the sport, he has the discipline, he has the work ethic, he has the feet, he has the power, the leg movement. Amir Khan is a complete package.”
De La Hoya is sceptical that Mayweather's much-hyped clash with Manny Pacquiao will ever happen and says Khan can put himself at the front of the queue to fight the world's pound-for-pound king by impressing against Alexander at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Yet he knows that for all of his charm and powers of persuasion, Mayweather will ultimately decide the identity of his next opponent in May.
“One thing for sure is that as Amir Khan's promoter, I'm going to push as hard as I can to get that Mayweather fight, because that's what he deserves,” said the legendary American.
“I truly feel that if a Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't happen next year for Floyd, then he has no choice but to fight Amir Khan, especially if Amir Khan has a spectacular performance.
“I mean, the public are demanding it. The fans are demanding it and that's how we have to push it.”
De La Hoya says former Wild Card gym-mate Pacquiao could be another option and says Khan has the speed to trouble both legends.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I truly feel that Amir Khan fighting a Mayweather, Amir Khan's style can give a lot of trouble to Mayweather.
“And Amir Khan fighting Manny Pacquiao can give Manny Pacquiao a lot of trouble because Amir Khan is not only a boxer, he's also a fighter.
“He's a fighter who will stay there in front of you and exchange, but he's very smart. He can box you, he can punch you, he's a smart boxer-puncher, and those are the most dangerous.”
Although De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions have staged Mayweather's last 10 fights, the picture is complicated by former CEO Richard Schaefer's departure from the company.
Schaefer is extremely close to Mayweather, who has said he only wants to work with him.
De La Hoya tried to play down this potential obstacle to a fight with Mayweather and says IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook would be a good alternative for Khan.
“Well, we obviously would have to go back to the drawing board,” he said. “One fighter that comes to mind, for instance, would be a Kell Brook.
“I can see that type of fight happening at a Wembley Stadium, for instance, in front of a 100,000 people. So that would possibly be Plan B.”
And that is not a bad Plan B.
Amir Khan v Devon Alexander is live on Sky Sports on Saturday
The Golden Boy chief claims Khan's hand speed in flooring Luis Collazo in his last fight reminded him of Ali and says he has the talent to be one of the greats
High praise: Khan has been likened to Ali by De La Hoya
As pats on the back go for Amir Khan, they do not come much more hefty than Oscar De La Hoya likening him to the legendar Muhammad Ali.
And in a further boost, De La Hoya has vowed to do all he can to land the Bolton fighter his dream shot at Floyd Mayweather Junior if he beats Devon Alexander on Saturday.
He claims Khan's hand speed in flooring Luis Collazo in his last fight reminded him of Ali and says he has the talent to be one of the greats.
“When I saw Collazo fall down, I instantly thought about Muhammad Ali against Sonny Liston,” said De La Hoya, who is Khan's promoter. “It was real quick.
“Amir Khan is just right at the peak of his career. I truly feel that Amir Khan is just beginning. I truly feel that Amir Khan, if he keeps winning, if he keeps on getting into these big fights that are promised, I really do feel that Amir Khan can be one of the top fighters of all time.
“He has the passion for the sport, he has the discipline, he has the work ethic, he has the feet, he has the power, the leg movement. Amir Khan is a complete package.”
De La Hoya is sceptical that Mayweather's much-hyped clash with Manny Pacquiao will ever happen and says Khan can put himself at the front of the queue to fight the world's pound-for-pound king by impressing against Alexander at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Yet he knows that for all of his charm and powers of persuasion, Mayweather will ultimately decide the identity of his next opponent in May.
“One thing for sure is that as Amir Khan's promoter, I'm going to push as hard as I can to get that Mayweather fight, because that's what he deserves,” said the legendary American.
“I truly feel that if a Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't happen next year for Floyd, then he has no choice but to fight Amir Khan, especially if Amir Khan has a spectacular performance.
“I mean, the public are demanding it. The fans are demanding it and that's how we have to push it.”
De La Hoya says former Wild Card gym-mate Pacquiao could be another option and says Khan has the speed to trouble both legends.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I truly feel that Amir Khan fighting a Mayweather, Amir Khan's style can give a lot of trouble to Mayweather.
“And Amir Khan fighting Manny Pacquiao can give Manny Pacquiao a lot of trouble because Amir Khan is not only a boxer, he's also a fighter.
“He's a fighter who will stay there in front of you and exchange, but he's very smart. He can box you, he can punch you, he's a smart boxer-puncher, and those are the most dangerous.”
Although De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions have staged Mayweather's last 10 fights, the picture is complicated by former CEO Richard Schaefer's departure from the company.
Schaefer is extremely close to Mayweather, who has said he only wants to work with him.
De La Hoya tried to play down this potential obstacle to a fight with Mayweather and says IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook would be a good alternative for Khan.
“Well, we obviously would have to go back to the drawing board,” he said. “One fighter that comes to mind, for instance, would be a Kell Brook.
“I can see that type of fight happening at a Wembley Stadium, for instance, in front of a 100,000 people. So that would possibly be Plan B.”
And that is not a bad Plan B.
Amir Khan v Devon Alexander is live on Sky Sports on Saturday
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