By Mark Vester
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan has responded to some of the critics who think he is not ready for a challenge like former three division champion Juan Manuel Marquez. In a recent interview Khan said that he would like to come to America in his next ring outing, and wants a major fight with someone like Marquez.
Khan is trained by Freddie Roach, who also handles pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Roach told Khan that he could take Marquez apart, and that was told to the British fighter prior to Marquez's dominating loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. He said Roach calls the shots and told him that he's ready for Marquez.
"Freddie says who I should take on," Khan told The Times Online . "He said before Mayweather fought Marquez that ‘if you ever fought Marquez, you would take him apart' People can say about me what they want, but I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve, beat Salita and look at some big names who are worth me fighting. A guy like Juan Diaz is a brilliant style for me. A guy like (Erik) Morales or Marquez at the end of next year. I’m ready for those guys now."
First order of business is a title defense on Saturday against mandatory Dmitriy Salita. Khan doesn't seem too worried. He says some of his sparring partners can beat Salita.
“The sparring I get is awesome," Khan said. "The sparring I get is tougher than the fight. I know some of the guys I spar could beat Salita."
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