Amir Khan Feels Boost From Roach To Hunter Switch

By Edward Chaykovsky

British boxer Amir Khan (30-3, 19KOs) feels like a new man with trainer Virgil Hunter in the corner. Khan was previously trained by Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. In 2012, he switched over to Hunter after voicing concerns regarding Roach's health and having to travel over to the Philippines to share training camps with Manny Pacquiao.

After moving up to welterweight and getting dominating victories over Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander, Khan has found himself in the mix for major fights at the weight.

“I think Virgil is doing everything right and helping me become a complete fighter. I see myself as a new fighter not making the same mistakes I used to. In the Alexander fight, I had Virgil shouting at me from the corner throughout. I thought ‘Am I losing this fight?’ because I was getting a rollicking. I asked him if I was winning and he said yes but to stick to the things he wanted me to do and I did that," Khan told Bolton News.

“To be honest, I think I need a trainer like that. No disrespect to him, but with Freddie Roach, who is one of the best trainers ever, I never used to hear him in the corner – he was too calm. Having someone yelling at you gives you a boost I think and has certainly helped me.”