British-Pakistani boxer, Amir Khan, prepares for his HBO and American TV debut on May 15, when he defends his WBA light-welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The ambitious young Muslim boxer from Bolton has his eyes set on the big dogs in boxing like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his own stablemate at Wild Card Boxing Club, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Amir Khan the current WBA light-welterweight title holder said he would even fight Manny Pacquiao who is also trained by Freddie Roach and believes he could beat Pacquiao since he had a good showing in sparring with Manny.
“Yes, you have to believe that, and I do. In the Wild Card gym, all the guys there want to knock your head off, so you have to be mentally as well as physically prepared. Freddie Roach said it was like watching a cockfight when I sparred with Manny, because we were so quick.” Khan told GQ magazine.
Khan believes he will fight Pacquiao and Mayweather within a certain time frame.
“I think so, yes. In 12 months from now. I will be ready for him(Manny Pacquiao) – and Floyd Mayweather Jr.”
In the same interview Khan also reveals his strategy on how to beat top guys like Mayweather and Pacquiao, he says you must beat them when they are past their prime or off their peaks and uses Oscar De La Hoya, his current promoter, as an example.
“You have to know the best time to have these big fights in your career. If you look at Oscar De La Hoya, he fought all the best fighters when they were on the way downhill, and not at their best. I want to catch these guys when they have come off their peak. But I have to be careful because there might be a younger version of me coming up who wants to do exactly the same to me.” said Khan.
Watch Amir Khan make his American boxing debut on HBO, when he fights Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, May 15, 2010.
Got an Opinion? Submit Your Article to be posted on Nowboxing.com
JOIN the NOW BOXING FORUM to discuss this and other boxing news topics (membership is FREE)
