by James Slater – Nothing has been made official yet, and Amir Khan’s team say the 21-year-old has the final say on the matter, but it looks very much like Freddie Roach will be the former Olympian’s new trainer. Khan spent this past weekend working with Roach at his famous Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, as has been revealed on talkSPORT.
“We worked yesterday (Sunday, Sept 21st),” Roach said. “We were discussing the mistakes he made in that fight [against Breidis Prescott]. I tried to get that out of the way. I really don’t want to dwell on the past too much. We’re going to fight in December and he’s going to train here for six weeks for that fight.”
December the 6th is the date pencilled in for Khan’s return, his first fight back since the Prescott disaster. No opponent has been announced yet, but it doesn’t figure to be anybody too tough. A confidence builder is what Khan needs, and with Roach by his side his confidence will likely get a boost. If anyone can get the very best out of the gifted young fighter’s considerable talents it is Freddie.
“He needs a rebuilding of everything, to be honest with you,” Roach continued. “Because sometimes when you get knocked out like that it can be pretty devastating. But you need to get right back at it and not waste any time. He’s making a few fundamental mistakes and we’ll make some adjustments. He’s a very talented kid and he’s capable of making those adjustments.”
While it looks like Roach will indeed become Khan’s new trainer, at the very least for one fight, nothing will be in concrete until an official announcement, which is expected this week some time. However, Amir’s father, Shah Khan, suggested the possibility that Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio may not be out the door completely. Despite news that said Khan had fired Rubio, Shah spoke of how the man who was drafted in a short while ago may still be involved in Amir’s training as an assistant.
“There is the possibility of us still working with Rubio,” Khan’s dad said. “He showed us some good things. He won’t be the main trainer, but there is the possibility he could still be involved. Obviously this trip was just to see Freddie and work with him but we’ll get back home and Amir will have a think and decide what to do. It’s gone well but it’s Amir’s decision to make.”
As long as both the fighter and the trainer get along and see eye to eye, there is surely no better man for the job as Amir Khan’s new trainer than Freddie Roach, surely?