Roach: Khan The New Manny

ROACH: KHAN THE NEW MANNY Sportinglife.com Freddie Roach predicts Amir Khan will become boxing's next superstar by emulating the popularity of Manny Pacquiao. Khan became unified world light-welterweight champion when he demolished respected American Zab Judah inside five rounds at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre. Hall of Fame trainer Roach believes the 24-year-old has the attributes to emerge as the sport's dominant personality. "In my mind he can be the next Manny Pacquiao, there's no doubt about that," Roach said. "I think he can succeed Manny as the next pound-for-pound champion. "He's struggling a little bit to make the 140lbs weight and when he moves up to 147lbs he will be stronger, more powerful and more resilient." Beating Floyd Mayweather would launch Khan's profile into the stratosphere and Golden Boy, his promoters, have pencilled in that showdown for late next year. But Roach believes Khan needs just one more fight before facing Mayweather, who meets Victor Ortiz on September 17, raising the prospect of them clashing early next year. "I do believe Amir's speed can trouble Mayweather but Mayweather is a very good boxer and is very slick," Roach said. "We'd love to take on the winner of his fight with Ortiz. "Mayweather isn't fighting until September and it can't happen right away, so I'd like to slip one more fight in there before then. "We will fight again in December and then maybe go for Mayweather. "I'd really like for Amir to clean up at light-welterweight and unify those titles first, because that hasn't been done in a long time." Unifying the division means crossing swords with WBC and WBO champion Timothy Bradley, who had verbally agreed to fight Khan only to pull out despite being offered favourable terms. It is doubtful a fight with Bradley can be made but Roach still wants the 27-year-old from Palm Springs and is less keen on Mexican great Erik Morales. "I'd like to have Bradley next, it's a good, tough fight that would be very competitive. It's the fight people want to see," Roach said. "Erik Morales was game against (Khan victim) Marcos Maidana in April and has experience, but there are better fights out there." Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer believes Khan has become the top fighter at light-welterweight to the extent that titles are no longer so important. "Amir must be the undisputed 140lbs champion because if Bradley didn't want to fight before, he won't want to fight him after seeing him beat Judah," said Schaefer. "Belts are becoming irrelevant for Amir. There is a time when a fighter becomes bigger than the belts and Amir is there. He's the most exciting fighter in that division. "No one can say to Amir, 'You didn't fight Bradley'. Bradley had his chance, he was given a 50-50 split of the UK TV money. Everyone knows Bradley didn't want to fight." Roach was delighted by Khan's performance against Judah and gave short shrift to the American's claim that the decisive blow was low. "You could see earlier in the fifth round that Zab was looking for help. I told Amir that," he said. "Zab was starting to get beat up. He was bleeding early, he was cut from the nose early. He was complaining about his eye. "That was one of Amir's best performances. That was the toughest, most experienced opponent we've ever fought and we took a shut out. "I'm thrilled because it shows he's paying attention to what I'm teaching him. He's a great student and a great listener. "Amir's best quality is that he listens. He's the best listener I've ever had. I give him some instructions, he follows them to a T. "He has a lot of trust in me and I have a lot of trust in him. It's a very solid relationship and it feels good that he trusts me that much." Amir is definitely top shelf. :biggthump:biggthump:biggthump http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=207&pictureid=9804