Amir Khan: record, next fight and profile →
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former two-division champion Devon Alexander (26-2, 14KOs) says reporters are constantly asking him about the speed of Amir Khan (29-3, 19KOs), and rarely mention any of his other qualities. The two fighters collide on Saturday night in the main event of an HBO televised tripleheader.
LAS VEGAS – British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan and former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” made their ‘Grand Arrivals’ and performed a light workout on Wednesday at MGM Grand, just three days before their welterweight showdown this Saturday, Dec. 13, live on SHOWTIME. Khan (29-3, 19 KOs), of Bolton, England, and Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs), of St. Louis, will square off in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® quadrupleheader from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Amir Khan (29-3, 19KOs) is still in disbelief that his former trainer, Freddie Roach, stated in several interviews that Manny Pacquiao dropped the British boxer during their sparring sessions. Roach trained both fighters for several years at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and there were several joint training camps. Khan denies that Pacquiao dropped him or even came close to scoring a knockdown. In fact, Khan says he's never been dropped by anybody during a sparring session.
It was right around this time last year—in a fact, a year ago this past Sunday—when Amir Khan watched from afar as then-welterweight titlist Devon Alexander was dethroned by Shawn Porter. Khan was the originally scheduled challenger for Alexander that night in Brooklyn, but withdrew from the bout under the belief that he was next in line for a massive payday versus Floyd Mayweather. When all was said and done, Khan was denied – and perhaps even duped – as Mayweather went on to face Marcos Maidana in May for the first of what became a two-fight series. Khan was granted a consolation prize, strategically placed in the evening’s chief support slot as he scored a wide points win over Luis Collazo.
Former champion Amir Khan (29-3, 19KOs) believes the shift in weight to 147-pounds has done wonders for his punch resistance. There are still lingering questions marks regarding Khan's chin. He was stopped in two of his three career defeats and dropped in several other fights. On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Khan will collide with former two-division world champion Devon Alexander (26-2, 14KOs), who feels Khan's chin is not as sturdy as the British boxer believes.
Last month, BoxingScene.com ran a story where Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach discussed the past sparring sessions between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. Roach swore that Pacquiao blasted Khan several times in the gym and downplayed the magnitude of the two of them colliding down the line. Roach claimed Khan was decked at least "four times." Khan left Roach in 2012 and hooked up with Virgil Hunter, who is best known for training super middleweight king Andre Ward.
Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya has warned that former two-division world champion Devon Alexander is coming to make a statement on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He faces former champion and British superstar Amir Khan in the main event of a Showtime televised tripleheader. Alexander lost his IBF welterweight title and a close twelve round decision to Shawn Porter last December. A few months ago he returned to form with a dominating win over Jesus Soto Karass.
Former two division world champion Paulie Malignaggi was the opponent of choice when Amir Khan (29-3, 19Kos) made his American debut in 2010 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Khan stopped him in eleven rounds. The British star left a lasting impression on Malignaggi, who see his fast-handed style as being very problematic for Floyd Mayweather Jr. Khan returns on Saturday night against Devon Alexander at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If Khan wins, then a fight with Mayweather is a strong possibility for the first half of 2015.
Amir Khan is slightly more than a 2-1 favorite over Devon Alexander, but Alexander doesn’t think Khan’s skills justify those odds. The left-handed Alexander has studied Khan closely for years and just doesn’t believe there’s anything extraordinary about the British star he’ll encounter Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is open to the possibility of a fight between WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and British star Amir Khan. The two fighters were once stablemates under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. In 2012, Khan left Roach and hired trainer Virgil Hunter. Arum would certainly consider Khan as a potential Pacquiao opponent, but he's confident that Khan's adviser, Al Haymon, would likely prevent the fight from ever taking place.