By Lem Satterfield
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan confirmed his reunion with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza of the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Ariza was not in the corner of Khan (25-1, 17 knockouts) for last month's sixth-round, technical decision victory over Irish southpaw Paul McCloskey (22-1, 12 KOs).
Until then, Ariza had worked alongside trainer Freddie Roach with Khan for six fights, having joined Khan following his first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in September of 2008, after which Khan went 6-0, with four knockouts.
A former Olympic silver medalist, Khan was trained by Michael Vale for McCloskey after having removed Ariza following December's unanimous decision victory over then-interim WBO junior welteweight belt-holder, Marcos Rene Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs).
The two sides had a meeting to work things out during the week of the May 7th Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley welterweight clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"Me and Alex Ariza are working together. We [will] continue the work on Monday, 6am start," Khan said.
Khan's next fight is slated for July.