By Ronnie Nathanielsz
British prospect Amir Khan (20-1, 15 KO’s) who has moved up to challenge WBA light welterweight champion Andriy Kotelink (31-2-1, 13 KO’s) of the Ukraine on June 27 has been inspired by Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Conditioning expert Alex Ariza who began working with trainer Freddie Roach in preparing Pacquiao for the David Diaz in which Pacquiao annihilated the WBC lightweight champion in nine rounds, said Khan told him “ by watching Manny and all that he’s done I've been inspired.”
Khan had sparred with Pacquiao a few times when the Filipino southpaw was preparing for his battle with Oscar De La Hoya last December 6 which ended when De La Hoya quit on his stool and retired in the eighth round after absorbing a bad beating.
Ariza said Khan was “looking phenomenal” in five rounds with Pacquiao’s former sparring partner Rashad Holloway. He said Khan looked like he “hadn’t missed a day and was really fast” which is regarded as one of his strengths just like Pacquiao.
Khan is coming off a 5th round technical decision over fading Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera last March 14 in Manchester, England while Kotelnik in his last title defense won by a split decision over Argentina’s hard-hitting Marcos Rene Maidana (25-1, 24 KO’s) in Germany.
Maidana who will face Victor Ortiz (24-1-1, 19 KO’s) for the WBA Interim title at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will begin sparring with Filipino southpaw Mark Jason Melligen (14-1, 10 KO’s) in Las Vegas .
After winning two fights in the US Melligen was signed up to a four year contract by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum earlier in the week.
Arum told us he thinks the light welterweight from the ALA gym “ is a very good prospect”. Arum said that longtime Cebu resident Tony Martin who trains Melligen in Las Vegas as well as Melligen himself were "very nice people" even as Arum noted that the 22 year old“ is bigger than the usual Filipino.”
