By Phil D Jay

Newly-invigorated heavyweight David Haye is backing fallen champion and close friend Amir Khan to pick himself up, dust himself down and return to the sport with a victorious rematch victory over Danny Garcia.

Khan, 25, was blasted out in four rounds against the American at the weekend, suffering his third loss in the process and Haye still believes that there is plenty of fight let in the former light-welterweight title holder.

"Being only 25, I don’t believe there is any reason for him to retire," Haye told talkSPORT

“I watched the fight and he was in full control. I believe he has got the beating of Garcia. Garcia is a very good opponent but he just got caught with a punch. That happens in boxing.

"Lennox Lewis, one of the greatest fighters of all time, got took out with one punch. It happens. Roberto Duran got knocked out by Thomas The Hitman [Hearns]. Did he retire after that? No, he came back and became world champion again.

"Amir can do it. It has happened to him before and he came back and became a much bigger, stronger boxer and I believe he will do that again.

"I’m fully backing him to not only come back from this but to beat Garcia in good fashion next time around."

‘King’ Khan released a statement today vowing to continue at 140lbs until he recaptures the world title, although Garcia’s trainer and father Angel is hoping to take his champion son in a different direction.

Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net

Tags: Amir Khan , David Haye