This is Khan’s moment
AS THE temperature soared on the Las Vegas strip, Virgil Hunter decided to turn up the heat on Saul Alvarez.
Amir Khan’s trainer dismissed the notion that his fighter moving up from welterweight and dethroning the WBC middleweight champion would be one of boxing’s biggest shocks.
In fact, he believes it would not even be an upset as he taunted the Mexican on the eve of the showdown at the T- Mobile Arena . “I would not even call it an upset if Amir wins,” the Oakland- based trainer said. “Alvarez could very well win convincingly but I don’t think he is very good.”
Floyd Mayweather jnr schooled Alvarez here over 12 rounds just less than three years ago to hand him his only defeat in 48 outings. Alvarez has bounced back with four impressive wins and is considered a contender for boxing’s pound- forpound No1 ranking.
That honour will go to Khan if he comes out on top in the early hours of Sunday morning and Hunter believes his man could look even better than Mayweather in doing it.
“Amir could beat him worse than Floyd. He throws more punches and he is faster,” he said. “The difference is that Floyd is quicker, he processes things quicker mentally.” Hunter is certainly right when he says Khan’s opponent has made sure everything is in his favour for this fight.
The bout is at a catch- weight of 11st 1lb despite requests from Khan’s team to make it at just under 11st, while Alvarez refused a rehydration clause that would have stopped him ballooning after today’s weigh- in and insisted on a rematch if he loses.
The event is also on the ‘ Cinco de Mayo’ holiday weekend to make it extra- special for the Mexican.
Everything feels like it is stacked against Khan as he prepares for his first fight over 10st 7lb, with the bookmakers heavily favouring Alvarez, right.
“It has got to weigh on him that they are manipulating the system in his favour,” said Hunter.
As the clock ticks down to the first bell Hunter exudes confidence that Khan can upset the odds.
Hunter believes, like great fighters of the past such as Muhammad Ali when he took on George Foreman, that his man will shine brightest under the big lights when everyone expects him to fail. “In all great fighters like him, there’ s a great fight in him ,” he said. “He has a fight in him which he hasn’t shown yet. “That is what I keep telling him. It just takes a moment like this and it can be called up. From the time he started boxing to the Olympic silver medal, to the first world title to his second one, that fight is in him and he can beat anybody in that moment.” Former lightwelterweight world champion Khan has been in some big bouts throughout his 34- fight career and won Olympic silver in 2004 . But this is another level. The fans have started to flood into Las Vegas as the mercury rises. It is heating up both figuratively and literally. Almost 20,000 fans will be inside the T- Mobile Arena, while millions will tune in around the world. WATCH Khan versus Alvarez exclusively live on BoxNation on Saturday. Go to boxnation. com to subscribe.