By Mark Vester
UK lightweight star Amir Khan (18-1, 14KOs) wants to make his debut in America in 2009. At the moment he is training in Los Angeles at the Wild Card gym with his new coach, Freddie Roach. Khan returns to action on December 6 against Oisin Fagan (22-5, 13 KOs).
Khan tells BoxingScene.com’s Luis Sandoval that training with Roach and Manny Pacquiao, another of Roach's pupils, has been a great experience for his career. He wants to come to America soon, and not wait until the later part of his career like some of his countrymen like Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton.
"It's been good man, training with Freddie and all of the guys at the Wild Card and sparring with Manny Pacquiao. I know the guys. It's good to be in LA training. Most definitely man. I want to fight in the USA. There are many fighters who done that after fighting in England for so many years, but I want to start my career in the USA very young. So maybe next year, early next year I'll come over here and fight," Khan said.
"I think things happen for a reason. I had my first defeat. It's just one of those things. I'm not going to lose again. I'm going to train harder, be more smarter and be more patient in the fight and not rushing in there against a guy who can hit hard, who is a banger. It was the wrong tactics. Things happen for a reason. I'm in LA now. If I hadn't of lost, I wouldn't be here now. I'm fixing my mistakes and I'm going to come back stronger."
Khan wants to avenge his sole defeat that took place in September, a 54-second knockout at the hands of undefeated Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott. He says the improvements that he's received while training with Roach and experience of being in the ring with Pacquiao, will make him a better fighter in his career and gives him a lot of confidence.
"Most definitely. I'm a champion. I want to fight the guys who beat me, just like the amateur days. I got beat in the finals of the Olympic games. I came back and beat the guy. I want that fight. I have to fight him and in the future it will be a big fight. Everyone wants to see that fight and I want to fight him in the future," Khan said.
"I'm going to be more patient, pick my shots and be smart. The things I've been doing with Freddie Roach have been good. The sparring has gone really well so I can't wait to get back in the ring and prove all of the critics wrong."
"I made a mistake in the last fight, but I'm going to come back stronger. It's not like my confidence is gone. The best experience has been spending time with Freddie Roach and sparring Manny. Manny is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, so to share a ring with him and to do well with him in sparring - it gives me confidence."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
