By James Slater – WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan is currently hard at work getting ready for his big fight with the lethal-punching Marcos Maidana. Now in L.A, working alongside Manny Pacquiao with ace trainer Freddie Roach, Khan is looking forward to his Las Vegas debut.
I called up today for an interview, and Khan’s assistant, Tahir, informed me how Amir has just gotten over a bug. Despite this, camp – in both the Philippines and in L.A – has been going well, and the 23-year-old who captured a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics also spared some time to give the following answers to my questions.
Here is what an upbeat Khan had to say today:
James Slater: It’s a real pleasure to be able to speak with you, Amir. First of all, the bug Tahir tells me you had, was that a big problem in regards to your training, or was it just a small glitch?
Amir Khan: It was just a minor thing. I happened two days ago. I was meant to spar that day, but I said to myself, ‘I feel under the weather..’ I thought at first it was jetlag, after all that flying from the U.K to the Philippines and then from the Philippines to America. But I still felt cold and had a bit of a temperature. I think my body just needed a rest, after all that travelling and everything. Everything’s back to normal now. Training was going really well until then. In fact, I was a little ahead, and Alex [Ariza] told me I needed to slow it down anyway. So in a way, it’s good that it happened. The fight’s still six-and-half weeks away.
J.S: It’s a sensational match-up, you and Maidana, and it’s got everyone talking. Some say it’s his power Vs. your speed, and people are asking, can you take his power? But can he deal with your speed in your opinion?
A.K: My speed will kill his power. His power won’t be effective against my speed. The speed I have, I’ll dilute his power. He’s a big puncher, don’t get me wrong, and I know this is a very big test for me. Buy I won’t make the mistakes I’ve made before and I think I’ll shut up a lot of people by winning this fight.
J.S: Some people, at least on the forum of the website I write for, said you’d never take this fight at all – so you’ve already shut up a lot of people by taking it.
A.K: That’s right. I wanted this fight. The reason it didn’t happen a year ago, is because there wouldn’t have been the big money there is now, the fight wouldn’t have been anywhere near as big as it is now. So that’s why we waited, and now it’s a great fight for all boxing fans.
J.S: Is it fair to say, that if you took away Maidana’s power he’d not be in your class?
A.K: Yeah, I think so. Take away his power and he’s a domestic fighter, an ordinary fighter. I think he’s won his fights with his power and his heart. He’s not a complete fighter. Skills always win fights. But I won’t be taking any shortcuts in this fight, I will be on the ball.
J.S: He says he only has to catch you once and he will beat you. What do you say to that?
A.K: I don’t think so at all. After the first few rounds of the fight, people will be saying to themselves how they got it all wrong. When they see how easily I’m dominating him, they’ll realise that Maidana isn’t what they thought he was. He thinks I’m going to run in the fight, but I’m not going to run! I’ll be as comfortable and effective close in, in the pocket, as well as from long distance. I’ll box him with brains.
J.S: Is it fair to say though, that on paper this is the most dangerous fight of your career?
A.K: Definitely. On paper he’s the most powerful and the toughest guy, judging by his record. It’s a good, big test for me, but one I think I’ll walk through and then go on to some even bigger fights.
J.S: Do you see a distance fight, where you school him? Or do you think you’ll win by KO?
A.K: I think I’ll stop him. Mid-rounds, or late-rounds.
J.S: And you mentioned the big fights that will come after this fight if you win. We’ve all read about how you plan to fight the Tim Bradley-Devon Alexander winner, unify the 140-pound division and then go on to a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather! Is that the ideal plan for you?
A.K: That’s definitely the plan. People say I’m looking too far ahead, but I’m not talking about this for my next fight, I’m talking 12 to 15 months from now. It’s good to have ambition. I’m still learning, but it’s good to look to the future as well. And the Bradley-Alexander winner: I’m the first guy to call for the winner of my fight [with Miadana] to fight the winner of that fight. I asked for that after the Paulie Malignaggi fight. I asked for it on T.V. I was the first guy to demand those fights, so I’m dictating it. For a time it looked like they [Bradley and Alexander] wouldn’t fight, but now they’ve come to terms. I said to Golden Boy, ‘get me Maidana!’ So that I would fight the winner of Bradley and Alexander and unify the 140-pound division. I’m the guy who made all this happen.
J.S: Who wins out of Bradley and Alexander?
A.K: Bradley beats Alexander. I think Alexander’s still raw, and somewhat inexperienced. But then again, they’re both on the same level. It’s a 50-50 fight, but I’m edging towards Bradley winning it.
J.S: A fight with Mayweather would be huge, and I read you want it in the U.K. That would be a massive occasion! But do you think Floyd will fight again? Obviously no-one knows what will happen with his legal troubles.
A.K: When money, big money, is put on the table, fights get made. Floyd has said it’s his dream to fight in the U.K and this fight would be a great fight for me and for the U.K. When has the U.K had a fight this big?
J.S: It would be speed Vs. speed…
A.K: (jumping in) It would be speed and skill against speed and skill. As I’m getting older and wiser, my skills are coming on all the time. And timing-wise this fight would be perfect for me. Boxing’s all about timing, making the right fights at the right time. This is why we’re having this fight now, and then we want the next one, to put my name up there, as the best in the world in the light-welterweight division.
J.S: And by the time the fight with Mayweather happened, you’d be 24 and Floyd would be 34. Do you think you’ll be at your absolute peak at age 24?
A.K: I think 24 to 25 I’ll be in my prime. You know, I’ve improved so much under Freddie Roach – look at my fights and you can see. And the sparring I’ve done with Manny Pacquiao has also made me improve a lot. When we spar now, I do so well, I catch him and I’m very comfortable in there. That shows how much I’ve come on.
J.S: How many rounds have you done with Pac-Man so far?
A.K: We’ve done 15 rounds up until now, and we’ll probably end up doing around 25 rounds.
J.S: Well, you couldn’t get better sparring than that. It’s been great talking with you and I wish you the best of luck for the fight. We’re all looking forward to it and this fight is one no-one will mind paying for!
A.K: Thanks a lot mate.