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Amir Khan returns to Los Angeles in October where he has been training under Freddie Roach, sparring with Manny Pacquiao, and improving his all-round game. Revealing on Monday that there are definite talks ongoing for him to defend the WBA 140lb gong against Dmitry Salita in December, sometime, somewhere…Khan also spoke out in favour of his gym mate Pacquiao.
The prospect of Pacquiao facing Floyd Mayweather Jr, who returned to the ring after a 21-month absence last week to score a unanimous points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, is the talk of boxing. Many believe it will happen but Pacquiao must first go through Miguel Cotto. Arguably, it is the toughest fight of Pacquiao’s career. Cotto is a dangerous fighter who bides his time in championship fights, and sets traps like an old fox. Pacquiao will have to have his head on…for 36 minutes.
Khan admits he was impressed by Mayweather’s comeback, but believes Pacquiao would emerge the victor if they were to meet (he would also like to fight both of them himself down the line).
Khan said: “[Mayweather's comeback] was brilliant, Floyd is a great fighter. Coming back and having the pressure of not being in the ring for a year and a half - I think he looked better than before he retired. Boxing is exciting, with these champions coming forward and back in the ring. It’s an addiction that boxing gives you.”
“Floyd Mayweather called it a day and never wanted to look at boxing again, and a year and a half later he’s back in the ring again and is still classed as one of the very best in the world. I train alongside Manny Pacquiao who is also classed as one of the best in the world - what a fight that would be. It’s all brewing up for one big fight.
“But I’m the same weight as well and one day in the future maybe there could be a fight down the line for me. At the moment we’re taking our time and Salita is hopefully the next man for me. But from there the tougher fights and the bigger names will start coming. In a year’s time I think I’ll be in the same mix as them with the likes of Marquez, Mayweather and Manny.”
Khan believes Pacquiao’s speed would be the decisive factor in any contest with Mayweather. “I’ve trained with both of them, and I have to back my guy - my guy is Manny Pacquiao and I think Manny might take the fight with his speed.”
“A lot of people forget that speed is power. You can’t take it away from Mayweather, who is a fast fighter. But when you take speed, with amount of punches you throw - Manny throws a lot of punches with speed, whereas Mayweather is more a single-shot fighter. He’s still quick, but I don’t think single shots will keep Manny Pacquiao away from Mayweather, whereas I know combinations will push Mayweather back.
“I would say the fight looks 60% towards Manny’s favour, and he’s been more active, in the ring more. Mayweather’s performance coming back from retirement looked great though, and that was one fight - maybe in the second fight he might look even better
The prospect of Pacquiao facing Floyd Mayweather Jr, who returned to the ring after a 21-month absence last week to score a unanimous points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, is the talk of boxing. Many believe it will happen but Pacquiao must first go through Miguel Cotto. Arguably, it is the toughest fight of Pacquiao’s career. Cotto is a dangerous fighter who bides his time in championship fights, and sets traps like an old fox. Pacquiao will have to have his head on…for 36 minutes.
Khan admits he was impressed by Mayweather’s comeback, but believes Pacquiao would emerge the victor if they were to meet (he would also like to fight both of them himself down the line).
Khan said: “[Mayweather's comeback] was brilliant, Floyd is a great fighter. Coming back and having the pressure of not being in the ring for a year and a half - I think he looked better than before he retired. Boxing is exciting, with these champions coming forward and back in the ring. It’s an addiction that boxing gives you.”
“Floyd Mayweather called it a day and never wanted to look at boxing again, and a year and a half later he’s back in the ring again and is still classed as one of the very best in the world. I train alongside Manny Pacquiao who is also classed as one of the best in the world - what a fight that would be. It’s all brewing up for one big fight.
“But I’m the same weight as well and one day in the future maybe there could be a fight down the line for me. At the moment we’re taking our time and Salita is hopefully the next man for me. But from there the tougher fights and the bigger names will start coming. In a year’s time I think I’ll be in the same mix as them with the likes of Marquez, Mayweather and Manny.”
Khan believes Pacquiao’s speed would be the decisive factor in any contest with Mayweather. “I’ve trained with both of them, and I have to back my guy - my guy is Manny Pacquiao and I think Manny might take the fight with his speed.”
“A lot of people forget that speed is power. You can’t take it away from Mayweather, who is a fast fighter. But when you take speed, with amount of punches you throw - Manny throws a lot of punches with speed, whereas Mayweather is more a single-shot fighter. He’s still quick, but I don’t think single shots will keep Manny Pacquiao away from Mayweather, whereas I know combinations will push Mayweather back.
“I would say the fight looks 60% towards Manny’s favour, and he’s been more active, in the ring more. Mayweather’s performance coming back from retirement looked great though, and that was one fight - maybe in the second fight he might look even better
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