Oliver - No rush for King Khan

Wildcard gym the key to Bolton boxer's resurgence

Last updated: 6th December 2009  

Oliver - No rush for King Khan

Khan: won in 76 seconds

Mentally he has imnproved. Just being in the Roach gym has improved him, being with Manny Pacquiao. When you are sparring people like that, that's where you gain all the confidence. Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter and sparring with the likes of him is only going to improve your confidence all the time.

Spencer Oliver
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Sky Sports boxing analyst Spencer Oliver reckons Amir Khan should delay his debut in America.

The Bolton star retained his WBA light-welterweight title with a superb 76-second stoppage win over Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle on Saturday and is already looking ahead to his next defence.

Khan has made no secret of his desire to fight Stateside, but former European champion Oliver advises him to stay patient.

Oliver told Sky Sports News: "We heard Frank Warren say last week they were going to sit down and talk about it.

"Amir has just won the world title and it is only three days before his 23rd birthday. He is still a young man. He still has a lot of learning to do. He has proved that he is still learning.

"So maybe another fight here. He is going to go to America and that time will be maybe his next fight, maybe the fight after, but he is still on a learning curve."

Wherever Khan decides to fight next, Oliver is convinced his switch to Freddie Roach's Wildcard gym in Los Angeles has been the making of the Olympic silver medallist over the past 12 months.

Khan hooked up with the renowned trainer after his defeat last year to Breidis Prescott and has since become a regular sparring partner with Manny Pacquiao, the man rated the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

"Mentally he has imnproved," Oliver added. "Just being in the Roach gym has improved him, being with Manny Pacquiao.

"When you are sparring people like that, that's where you gain all the confidence. Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter and sparring with the likes of him is only going to improve your confidence all the time.

"Being wrapped around top fighters in the Wildcard gym has rubbed off very well on Amir Khan."

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