Amir Khan says Manny Pacquiao's amazing victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday night in Las Vegas has inspired him ahead of his clash with Dimitry Salita.
Khan - who like Pacquiao is trained by Freddie Roach - tackles his mandatory challenger on December 5 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
The fight marks the first defence of his WBA World Light-Welterweight title that he won against Andreas Kotelnik in July.
And Khan says Roach and co are buzzing following Pacquiao's 12th round stoppage win against Cotto, a victory which strengthens his claim to be P4P number one.
"I've worked with Manny for the last year or so and I have learnt so much from him," said Khan.
"For me, he is definitely the best fighter in the world at the moment and just watching him in the gym, let alone when he is fighting, is an inspiration.
"I was ringside at the MGM Grand on Saturday, and seeing Pacquiao's performance up close makes me want to train even harder and get to the level he is at right now.
"Cotto is a tough, tough fighter but Manny made it look easy in there. He took everything that Miguel threw at him and came back with twice as many punches.
"He's at the very top right now and I would like to congratulate him on all that he has achieved."
Khan is currently fine-tuning his training camp before flying back to the UK and putting the final touches to his preparations for the Salita fight.
DeGALE STEPS TO TAKE ON KING
Olympic Champion James DeGale will look to carry on his devastating run of KO performances against granite-jawed Welshman Nathan King in Newcastle.
DeGale, who won gold in Beijing last year, has won his last three fights by stoppage and is eying his first title fight in 2010.
But first he has to past King in a six rounder at the Metro Radio Arena on December 5, where he will form part of the under-card to Amir Khan's WBA World Light-Welterweight title defence against Dimitry Salita.
And hot-shot DeGale, still only 23, has vowed to become only the third man to stop King, who has kept good company.
"He's going to be dangerous because he's fought for titles before, including a version of the world super-middleweight crown," said DeGale.
"The only people who have stopped him are (former British champion) Tony Quigley and (world-rated Frenchman) Jean Paul Mendy so that tells you that he's going to be tough.
"If I can do a number on him then it is going to send out a big statement to the domestic division.
"Back in March he fought Kenny Anderson up in Scotland for the Celtic title and I thought he won that fight quite easily, but he lost it on the scorecards.
"This is the kind of fight I need though right now in my career.
"I'm really buzzing in the gym at the moment and I want a challenge because I feel like I'm getting better every day.
"People have only seen about 10 per cent of what I can do at the moment."
King - a 28-year-old from Mountain Ash - won't be fazed by facing DeGale as for years he worked with Joe Calzaghe.
And he's also gone the distance with the likes of Tony Oakey, Tony Dodson, Stevie McGuire, Eric Teymour and Anderson.
"James is a great talent but I'll be far too experienced for him," said King. "He's still a baby in the pros and I'll give him a lesson he won't forget."
RENDALL READY FOR ITALIAN TEST
RENDALL MUNROE has vowed not to blow it in his make or break fight at Nottingham's Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre on Friday night (20/11).
The Leicester southpaw (19-1) will be making the fifth defence of his European super-bantamweight against Italy's mandatory contender Simone Maludrottu (30-2).
Promoter Frank Maloney is sweating on the WBC sanctioning the fight as an eliminator for Toshiaki Nishioka's 8st 10lb world crown.
Maludrottu has been one of Europe's top fighters this decade, but 29-year-old Munroe said: "I have only watched a few rounds of him on DVD.
"I leave all the tactics to my trainer, Jason Shinfield.
"I go into every fight with a Plan A, then a Plan B and Plans C and D if they are needed. I'm ready for whatever Maludrottu has got.
"All this talk of a world title fight is great, but I am not looking beyond Friday's fight which is the most important of my career."
Among the hopefuls on the undercard is Southampton middleweight hopeful Tony Hill (1-0) who Maloney believes is the sleeper in the division.
Maloney said: "Tony is a southpaw with a decent pedigree. All the talk is about George Groves, Tony Jeffries and James DeGale, but this kid could be one to give them all a fight."
