By Mark Vester
Lightweight star Amir Khan has been in contact with Ricky Hatton to get advice on how to come back from a knockout loss. Hatton, arguably the biggest boxing star in the UK, was knocked out last December by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Earlier in the month, Khan was stopped in 54-seconds by Colombia's Breidis Prescott. Hatton returned in May to win a decision over Juan Lazcano, and Khan plans to return on December 6 in Birmingham.
"I have spoken to Ricky and he has given me some good advice about how to come back from a knock out. The canvas is not the best place to be in boxing but you have to come back from it and come back from it stronger," Khan said to writer Zehaad Hassan. "Ricky did it and I want to do the same. Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard got beaten in their careers, so it happens to the best. I know I have the talent to come back and be a better fighter."
It was widely reported that Khan fired trainer Jorge Rubio and hired Freddie Roach to take his place. Khan says the reports are only half-true. He admits that he hired Roach and plans to make his camp in Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California, but he says Rubio was not fired, but demoted to the role of assistant trainer. With Roach's main fighter, Manny Pacquiao, fighting Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas on the same night as Khan's big return, Rubio will likely work Khan's corner.
"I have made some changes. Jorge Rubio is now assistant coach and I am going to go to LA to train with Freddie Roach. He is a great coach and I am going to get some good sparring sessions out there. When it gets close to a fight I am going to go out there for six weeks and get my head down and train hard," Khan said.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
