WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan is a superior boxer at 24 than Filipino Manny Pacquiao was at the same age, according to trainer Freddie Roach who works with both fighters. Khan, like Pacquiao, is a southpaw renowned for his speed and hard work ethic and Roach firmly believes he will emulate the Filipino by becoming the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter within the next two years.

Khan, who has a career record of 25-1 with 17 knockouts, is scheduled to take on experienced American IBF holder Zab Judah in a unification fight in Las Vegas on July 23. While the 33-year-old Judah is a highly respected figure in boxing, Roach is confident Khan will triumph in style at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino — and probably inside the 12 scheduled rounds.

“Amir is little bit more ahead of Manny,” Roach told Reuters. “It took Manny Pacquiao eight years to get to the point where he became unbeatable and he has dominated every fight. Amir has been with me for just three years now and he’s getting closer and closer.

“He will become the pound-for-pound king within a couple of years. He is well ahead of schedule and a big win here against Zab would be another step towards Manny’s record. Zab will need to be at his best to survive in this one. I am very confident in my guy. We are ready to fight, we know when and where to attack this guy and how to attack him. We will win and walk away. I do not see this fight going the distance. We will overwhelm him with our speed and power, and I think Zab doesn’t really take to getting hit like he once did.”