Khan is carrying the weight of his own expectation
THE dazzling lights of both Broadway are beckoning Amir Khan once more. First, however, he knows this: ‘I have to find out that I have enough left in me for more huge fights.’ The answer comes now, in the more parochial surroundings of Birmingham Arena. Khan fully expects it to be a resounding Yes tonight as he hurdles the not so lofty Samuel Vargas in the second bout of his comeback from that concussing knockout by Canelo Alvarez two years ago. That came in vivid contrast to those boogie nights in New York where he pummelled world champion Americans Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri. Is he heading back to those halls of fame to fight the likes of Manny Pacquiao? Will he travel via a football ground for the great British grudge match with Kell Brook? Only Vargas stands in his way. Khan returns to welterweight, the division in which he has never lost. He had to strip naked at the weigh-in to make the 10st 7lb limit. Not so easy as he expected to trim the last ounces, or bang on the weight? That is a question his new trainer, veteran American Joe Goossen, will have to answer if it does all go pearshaped. Vargas was a comfortable one pound lighter. ‘At 31, I feel I’m not only as good as ever,’ Khan says. ‘But I need to prove it to myself in the ring. Then I can move on to a stadium fight with Brook and back to America for world title fights against Pacquiao, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. ‘This comeback has rekindled my love of boxing. ‘I’m not thinking about retirement. When I retire I want to be remembered not for all the exciting fights I’ve given the fans,’ he added. Khan v Vargas on Sky Sports Action from 7pm.