Khan’s shot in the dark
AMIR KHAN will have to prove he is not a “shot fighter” as he eyes up a big December pay day.
The former light-welterweight world champion returns to the ring for the first time in two years on Saturday when he takes on little-known Canadian Phil Lo Greco.
Khan, 31, is the red-hot favourite for the clash at Liverpool’s Echo Arena and he is out to impress in his first appearance since he was knocked out by Saul Alvarez in May 2016.
The Bolton fighter, who has lost four of his 35 bouts, signed a three-fight deal with new promoter Eddie Hearn earlier this year with plans for a pay-per-view outing in December.
Khan will fight again in August if he wins on Saturday before a potential blockbuster with British rival Kell Brook at Manchester Arena or a trip to the United States to face one of the welterweight world champions.
But Hearn has warned Khan he must look back to his best to ensure his comeback is not a false dawn.
“The old Amir Khan would be a very strong favourite for this fight, but as it happens he is just a strong favourite,” said Hearn.
“We don’t know if he’s the same fighter as he was two years ago. If he is, he can beat Lo Greco comfortably.
“In terms of being 31, he has had a few knockouts, but he has lived quite well. He’s not a big drinker, he doesn’t binge with food, he is fresh. Saturday will tell us how fresh.
“The thing is we just don’t know. He could be better than ever or he could be a shot fighter. The plan is to fight Saturday, then fight at the end of August, then the big one in December.”
A clash with Brook would be the most lucrative but negotiating a deal between the pair will still be problematic for Hearn even though he now promotes both. If a deal cannot be struck, then American Terence Crawford, who fights WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn in June, is one possible foe for December. IBF champion Errol Spence jnr, WBC and WBA title holder Keith Thurman and ring legend Manny also remain options.
Hearn said: “American promoters Top Rank have been on saying, ‘We would love to do Crawford against Khan’. Spence would fight him, Thurman would fight him, Brook would fight him, Pacquiao would fight him. Pacquiao It’s just a case of if we get him the fights, which does he want. My dream scenario would be for him to fight Kell Brook in December.
“You could do it in Manchester Arena. You could do it maybe at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. I don’t mind it in Manchester Arena. People think that fight is automatically done but it’s not.
“Kell will be there Saturday, it’s a fight he wants and it’s a fight Amir wants but the deal has to be right.”
Over in Belfast on the same night, Carl Frampton takes on former four-weight king Nonito Donaire having made some big changes to his camp with the addition of Manchester City’s strength and conditioning coach Simon Bitcon.
His fitness regime has been overseen by Dr Steve McGregor, who helped Frampton’s compatriot, golfer Rory McIlroy, get back to full fitness last year.
McGregor has drawn up fitness regimes for Manchester City, Leeds and Aston Villa as well as NBA giants New York Knicks and Frampton said: “It is all part of a new approach. I’m just looking for more of a scientific approach to things.”
The former two-weight world champion has enjoyed a few celebratory pints in the past after fights, and even footed the bill for the big sessions after his two clashes with Leo Santa Cruz in America.
But the 31-year-old feels ditching the drink will help him get the most out of his career as he eyes up another world title shot at featherweight.
“I’m not a big drinker, so it would not be a big change in my life,” he said. “I might have a wee drink every now and then, so I’m kind of going back on it already!
“But I want to make the most out of my career so it is about doing everything possible.”
We don’t know if he is the same fighter