Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KHAN LOOKS TO MONEY AND MANNY
After two years out, Amir takes inspiration from Mayweather and Pacquiao who won titles into their late 30s
AMIR KHAN is taking inspiration from Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao in his bid to become world champion again in his 30s.
Khan makes his comeback against
Phil Lo Greco at Liverpool’s Echo
Arena on Saturday after two years out and is targeting another world title at welterweight.
The former lightwelterweight king has not ruled since 2012 and is adamant he can end his sixyear wait, even though he is 31 and was flattened by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in his last fight.
Khan is undaunted and motivated by Mayweather and former gym-mate Pacquiao (both above) winning world titles in their late 30s.
“A world title for me now would mean everything,” he said. “Look at Manny Pacquiao who is 39 and started having his big fights at 31. Look at Mayweather, he was nearly 40 years old and was still winning titles.
“I’m still a baby by comparison. I’m still young compared to those guys and what they’ve achieved at the same weight as me. I’ve a few good fights in me, as long as I look after my body, which I do.”
Khan has had hand surgery, been rocked by very public and bitter family rows and been in the jungle for TV’S I’m A Celebrity during his time out, but says he is fully focused on his first UK fight since 2013.
He had three training camps during that time and says he has lost none of his trademark speed.
Khan is confident of dispatching Lo
Greco in the first of his three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn, despite having to draft in Joe Goossen as his trainer four weeks ago when Virgil Hunter fell ill.
“Honestly I feel like I’ve not left,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’ve been out for a long time.
“Two of my best performances were against Devon Alexander and Luis Collazo and I’d been out for just over a year before those fights.”
Goossen put Khan through his paces during a work-out yesterday and the Bolton fighter says they have hit it off.
“He’s very open, but when it comes down to training, he never takes his eyes off me,” he said. “I’ve never been used to this, someone monitoring everything you do. At the start I found it a little bit awkward.
“I’m used to it now and if I make a mistake he’ll yell at me and say, ‘Amir do this or that’. I’m glad I brought him in.”