By Mark Vester
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan says the critics pushed him in the direction of fighting mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana on December 11 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. They said Khan was scared and his chin was made of glass. He wants to shut their mouths in December. Khan will make his Las Vegas debut, following in the recent footsteps of Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton.
"It is not just a fight I want but one that all boxing fans want," said Khan. "That's why I took the fight because I want to shut the critics up and those people who say I am not fighting anyone. It didn't hurt me, the critics motivated me. I want to be the best in the world and this fight will take me on to bigger things. The critics boost my confidence.
"It makes me train harder, become more focused to prove these people wrong. Maidana is one of the best in the division. Every fighter wants to fight in Vegas. My dream was to fight in Vegas one day and it is happening. I want to see my name lit up on the strip. Hopefully the UK fans will show me support and I am sure I will do them all proud."
After the fight with Maidana, Khan wants the winner of January's fight between junior welterweight champions Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander. If Bradley-Alexander doesn't happen, Khan will fight every champion at the weight - one by one - but he doesn't believe Bradley and Alexander want to fight him.
"I know I am the best in this division. Maidana has come in at my weight but I will beat him and then I will fight the winner of Devon Alexander and Tim Bradley," Khan said. "If I have to fight all of them, one by one, I will do that. My dream is to become a legend in this sport and to do that, you have to fight the big names in this sport. But I don't think Alexander and Bradley want to fight me."
