Warren confident of victory

Promoter backing Khan to continue to learn from defeat

Last updated: 3rd December 2009  

KING KHAN THE FIRST DEFENCE
Amir Khan v Dmitriy Salita
WBA light-welterweight
Live on Sky Box Office & in HD
8.00pm, Saturday, December 5
Channel 743 & 752
Call 08442 410888 for details

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Frank Warren believes Amir Khan's defeat to Breidis Prescott in 2008 has made the former Olympic silver medallist into a better boxer.

The promoter expects Khan to come through the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title on Saturday night against Dmitriy Salita as the 22-year-old continues to rebuild his career.

Khan was knocked out in the first round by Prescott almost 18 months ago, de-railing the Bolton boxer's dream of world title glory.

However, a change of trainer and Warren's gamble to match the youngster with jaded ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera just six months later paid off, with Khan taking the world title against Andreas Kotelnik in July.

But Warren reflects on that defeat as a turning point in Khan's career and a wake-up call that changes needed to be made.

"It was a shock result and many people wrote him off but I had a sit down and thought about the best way to bring him back and I thought Barrera was a good pick," Warren told Sky Sports News.

"I thought he'd make him look good and I thought he (Khan) would win the fight which he did.

Good win

"Then it was the Kotelnik fight, he was an underestimated fighter, I've read some of the stuff that's been said since the fight and I think people have got it wrong.

"It was a good win for Amir, he looked good that night, he fought the correct way, he showed that he's learnt being under the tutelage of Freddie Roach - the way he was moving - and obviously now he's defending his title against a mandatory challenger.

Warren says Khan should overcome the New Yorker although the undefeated challenger should be respected.

"Salita's very confident, they believe there's chinks in Amir's armoury and you can see why," he added. "He got knocked out by Prescott, but he's one of those fighters and Amir was very careless that night.

"They're looking to exploit what they feel is a weakness. I think he's gained more strength from that in what he's had to do with his career in the way that he's changed the style of his fihgting.

"Amir's got to be on top of his game to beat him. I expect him to beat him, I've got a lot of confidence in Amir but this guy fancies the job."

Hatton should retire

Warren also cautioned against seeing Ricky Hatton return to the ring followed further speculation that the former world champion could come out of retirement to fight Khan.

Hatton was last seen being knocked out in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao in May and has yet to announce a comeback despite rumours he will take on Juan Manuel Marquez next summer.

"Ricky can lose weight, anybody can if they're training hard, what he can't get back is the ability to get out the way of punches," Warren said. "It happens to all fighters.

"He doesn't need to fight, but if he does come back - and I hope he doesn't - and wants to fight Amir, why not? For me that fight is a knocking bet for Amir.

"I don't see anything he can do to beat Amir Khan, but if I was him I wouldn't fight, I don't think it's good for him and I certainly don't think it's good for boxing.

"He must be walking round at 14 stone, it's crazy. You can't live a life like he leads and be a professional athlete. God forbid anything goes wrong, everyone will blame boxing instead of somebody's ego."

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