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Amir Khan is training in the Philippines for the fourth defence of his WBA title against Paul McCloskey. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters
Amir Khan, speaking for the first time about his split with controversial conditioner Alex Ariza, says he feels "so much stronger" eating uncomplicated organic food after junking his pre-fight diet of 7,000-plus calories a day and several supplements. For a kid from Bolton who used to boast he could fight and train on kebabs and pop ending up eating sprouts and lentils is some journey.
Khan is training in the Philippines for the fourth defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Irishman Paul McCloskey in Manchester on 16 April – and a possible £5m unification fight against the American WBO and WBC 10-stone champion Tim Bradley, already inked in for 23 July, probably in Las Vegas.
When Khan got rid of the pills and power shakes, he showed Ariza the door, too. In came Michael Vale, a Los Angeles strength coach and nutritionist recommended by Khan's trainer, Freddie Roach, and the fighter clearly feels better for the change.
He insists he did not sack Ariza because of unfounded rumours that he used controversial and possibly illegal supplements in helping Manny Pacquiao and, to a lesser extent himself, bulk up with muscle and bone density to rise through the weights. "It was nothing big," Khan says. "At the end of the day, we just grew apart. Also, he was with Manny at the same time, and I needed a full-time conditioner."
Ariza still looks after Pacquiao, Khan's friend and training partner, and will be in camp with both of them in the Philippines as they prepare for their world title fights. Pacquiao is getting ready for Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on 7 May.
The atmosphere when they gather in Baguio City, three hours' drive from Manila, on Sunday may not be that of a tea party. Although Khan is happy to move on, the outspoken Ariza claims he is still owed money after Khan's last fight, against the Argentinian Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in December.
He accused Khan's father, Shah, of interfering in the boxer's affairs and did little for the conciliation process when he observed, "I understand Amir is his meal ticket and he does not want to go back to driving cabs for a living".
Khan says: "I spoke to Freddie about it, how I wasn't happy with it, and he recommended Michael. I'm getting on well with him, he's a really good strength conditioner. He encourages me to understand my body and my health more. I now understand what I'm eating and why I'm eating it.
"With Alex, I would just do what he said. Alex is very professional, too, but we had just gone so far. He's still here with Manny, so that's fine.
"Organic food is the best for you, and I'm eating the best, a lot of fresh vegetables. I also keep myself hydrated. It's all made a big difference to my performance in the gym.
"When I had to do all those calories, I had to use up all my energy [to burn them off]. Now I feel sharp and strong, so much stronger. When I'm not training I can eat what I want, but getting ready for a fight over 10 weeks, this is the best for me. I am in the best shape ever and I don't take any short cuts.
"I took a couple of days to acclimatise when we got to Manila [on Wednesday], working on the pads with Freddie, doing light training. I don't normally suffer from jet lag but 17 hours in a plane will affect anyone. I'm fine now and the sparring is going well.
"Manny and the rest of us will drive up together on Sunday to his training camp. It's normally a four-hour journey but, with Manny, he's got a police escort, so we do it in around three hours. The roads are good, nothing like I imagined before I came here. I thought it might be a shocking place, but it's great. The people are so nice, as well."
For all the distractions, Khan knows he must now concentrate on a hard-hitting southpaw from Derry. And, if needed any motivation beyond holding on to his title, he may like to know that, for the first time in his career, McCloskey has employed a strength and conditioning coach, Oliver Cummings.
"McCloskey is a good fighter," Khan says, "and, for him, this is the biggest opportunity he's every going to get. That's why I'm training so hard. I cannot afford to lose it. There is so much to look forward to."
Amir Khan, speaking for the first time about his split with controversial conditioner Alex Ariza, says he feels "so much stronger" eating uncomplicated organic food after junking his pre-fight diet of 7,000-plus calories a day and several supplements. For a kid from Bolton who used to boast he could fight and train on kebabs and pop ending up eating sprouts and lentils is some journey.
Khan is training in the Philippines for the fourth defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Irishman Paul McCloskey in Manchester on 16 April – and a possible £5m unification fight against the American WBO and WBC 10-stone champion Tim Bradley, already inked in for 23 July, probably in Las Vegas.
When Khan got rid of the pills and power shakes, he showed Ariza the door, too. In came Michael Vale, a Los Angeles strength coach and nutritionist recommended by Khan's trainer, Freddie Roach, and the fighter clearly feels better for the change.
He insists he did not sack Ariza because of unfounded rumours that he used controversial and possibly illegal supplements in helping Manny Pacquiao and, to a lesser extent himself, bulk up with muscle and bone density to rise through the weights. "It was nothing big," Khan says. "At the end of the day, we just grew apart. Also, he was with Manny at the same time, and I needed a full-time conditioner."
Ariza still looks after Pacquiao, Khan's friend and training partner, and will be in camp with both of them in the Philippines as they prepare for their world title fights. Pacquiao is getting ready for Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on 7 May.
The atmosphere when they gather in Baguio City, three hours' drive from Manila, on Sunday may not be that of a tea party. Although Khan is happy to move on, the outspoken Ariza claims he is still owed money after Khan's last fight, against the Argentinian Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in December.
He accused Khan's father, Shah, of interfering in the boxer's affairs and did little for the conciliation process when he observed, "I understand Amir is his meal ticket and he does not want to go back to driving cabs for a living".
Khan says: "I spoke to Freddie about it, how I wasn't happy with it, and he recommended Michael. I'm getting on well with him, he's a really good strength conditioner. He encourages me to understand my body and my health more. I now understand what I'm eating and why I'm eating it.
"With Alex, I would just do what he said. Alex is very professional, too, but we had just gone so far. He's still here with Manny, so that's fine.
"Organic food is the best for you, and I'm eating the best, a lot of fresh vegetables. I also keep myself hydrated. It's all made a big difference to my performance in the gym.
"When I had to do all those calories, I had to use up all my energy [to burn them off]. Now I feel sharp and strong, so much stronger. When I'm not training I can eat what I want, but getting ready for a fight over 10 weeks, this is the best for me. I am in the best shape ever and I don't take any short cuts.
"I took a couple of days to acclimatise when we got to Manila [on Wednesday], working on the pads with Freddie, doing light training. I don't normally suffer from jet lag but 17 hours in a plane will affect anyone. I'm fine now and the sparring is going well.
"Manny and the rest of us will drive up together on Sunday to his training camp. It's normally a four-hour journey but, with Manny, he's got a police escort, so we do it in around three hours. The roads are good, nothing like I imagined before I came here. I thought it might be a shocking place, but it's great. The people are so nice, as well."
For all the distractions, Khan knows he must now concentrate on a hard-hitting southpaw from Derry. And, if needed any motivation beyond holding on to his title, he may like to know that, for the first time in his career, McCloskey has employed a strength and conditioning coach, Oliver Cummings.
"McCloskey is a good fighter," Khan says, "and, for him, this is the biggest opportunity he's every going to get. That's why I'm training so hard. I cannot afford to lose it. There is so much to look forward to."
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