‘Khan’s time has passed’
NO CASEY HEARTBREAK THIS TIME
AMIR KHAN has been told he is over the hill and his career will end tomorrow.
The Bolton fighter takes on Colombianborn Samuel Vargas in Birmingham, as he eyes up a December bout with Manny Pacquiao or Kell Brook.
But Vargas, 29, has vowed to finish off the former world champion’s career by pulling off a huge upset and handing Khan a fifth defeat.
“When I was told about this fight and asked if I wanted it, I said, ‘Hell yeah, send me the contract’,” the 11/1 outsider said.
“Why did I take it? It’s simple because I know I can beat him. He has been a great champion, he has been in some great fights, but his time has passed.
“This is my time now. It is time for me to put an end to his career and make a name for myself.
“This guy has been knocked out three times, it shows he can go down and it is something I can do.
“I know I will be the villain and the crowd will be booing me, but it is just another day for me.
“They might boo me but, in the end, I will win, so I don’t care if they hate me.”
Khan is expected to beat Vargas, who has lost three and drawn two of his 34 fights, to secure a huge moneyspinning bout in December. BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS took her hat off to Jamie Murray and now wants him to wear a wacky cap for their US Open mixed doubles final. The American is best known for outrageous outfits that have ranged from a Lady Gaga-style warm-up jacket at Wimbledon in 2010 to her leopard-print kit at the US Open. Mattek-Sands (left) even adopted a football theme at SW19 while the World Cup was on in 2006 and often wears knee-high socks as well as dying her hair pink, green and purple.
The 33-year-old, who won mixed doubles gold at the 2016 Olympics, usually gets her playing partner to agree to some outlandish gear if they reach the final.
This time she forgot to ask Murray and they have made the final, but she is not giving up ahead of tomorrow’s showdown on Arthur Ashe Stadium with Croatian Nikola Mektic and Poland’s Alicja Rosolska. In the past, Mattek-Sands has worn a straw hat, but at Flushing Meadows this year she has favoured floral headgear – and just happens to have a spare. “I’ve got two different patterns, but I wish they made 50 because I would keep wearing them. Jamie could rock the hat.”