Amir Khan's eyes lit up as we entered the 24 hour non-stop mecca of entertainment. As a boy, he dreamt of two things; becoming world champion, and fighting in mega-matches on the Vegas strip.

Amir showed his usual dedication and discipline to keep to his tight regime. We met him outside the Planet Hollywood Hotel at first light on his first morning in Vegas. It was off to join the early risers - like the US Military - at the City's University athletics track, for sprints under the guidance of Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza.

Pacquiao & Khan: the king and prince of the Wild Card

With Manny Pacquiao following close behind Khan's sessions, the camp felt very much like the young champion setting up the sport's biggest superstar. They crossed over like a tag team, back and forth with unconditional support and friendship. Maybe one day, it will be like a passing of the boxing torch.

Khan knows he has a long, long way to go, but being around Pacquiao's huge fight with Miguel Cotto has fuelled his ambition to really succeed in the sport. It drove him on for the pads sessions, it made him spar harder; there was an added enthusiasm from the young Bolton light-welterweight.

It was so refreshing and professional to see Freddie and Alex treating them both the same. There was no obvious favouritism towards Manny - even though he was closing in on the biggest fight and night of his life. Amir's work was just as crucial; maybe more so, with this period being the real engine room of his build-up towards December 5.

Amir and Freddie talked tactics; Amir and Alex talked nutrition and highly intensive strength work. This thoroughly engaging duo become more and more impressive to me each camp I am around them - be it for Pacquiao or Khan.

Stylistic

It was also great exposure for Amir, with hundreds of the world's media on tap. They wanted to talk to him. There was a genuine interest. Amir made sure he was there for the press conferences, weigh-in and the big fight night, making himself available for interviews, and soaking up the electric atmosphere.

Khan's intelligent and astute; his post-Pacquiao-Cotto reaction highlighted his skill at reading fights and fighter's make-ups. He pinpointed the 'chin' that Pacquiao possesses and tactically assessed his successful stylistic tendencies and gameplan.

The manner of Manny's victory will give Amir no end of confidence because of how close they have become, the fact that they've sparred competitively together, and how he is generally learning more and more from the world's very finest.

It was also excellent to see that many of the travelling fans wanted pictures and autographs with Amir. He was much better known to the worldwide fight fraternity than I thought he would be.

We spent a couple of evenings together. One was for an Indian meal, and Amir was very careful about what he ate as he talked to me about his ambitions of conquering America, and his desire to keep very much down-to-earth, and remain living with his lovely family back home. Despite all the distractions of Sin City to youngsters of his age, Amir was in bed before 11pm each night, and that was great to see.

All week Amir Khan reminded me of how much he craves becoming one of our finest athletes and sporting success stories. He knows it will be a bumpy road ahead but his work ethic, passion and drive were wonderful to see.

Charismatic

David Haye also joined Amir in town, and it was fabulous to watch our two newly-crowned world champions being courted in front of the US media. Golden Boy and Top Rank were highly praiseworthy of both and it's really rewarding to have a couple of bright, charismatic boxers on the American radar again.

We said goodbye to Amir after the fight, as he headed back to LA for one last week at the Wild Card. Freddie Roach leads the team over this weekend, for a final two-week preparation in Bolton, and then the North East, for his crunch clash against Dmitriy Salita.

Freddie can't wait to return to Newcastle, having brought Frankie Liles over in the nineties for a phenomenal battle with Tim Littles. He predicts another exciting night, and will be donning the Geordie black and white, because his admiration for their hero, Alan Shearer, made him become a Newcastle fan!

I sense that however close Freddie is to Manny - and they are in many ways best friends - he is equally as proud of the way Amir has turned his boxing career around from the devastation against Breidis Prescott. Freddie deserves enormous praise for his role, and I think it was a very special moment for him in July, when Khan lifted the world 10-stone title.

Freddie remains convinced that after Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan will become the next boxing superstar. He wouldn't be wasting his time if he didn't. It is a long, daunting journey ahead, but what I've seen in Vegas this time, fills me with more confidence that some thrilling nights lie ahead for Khan.

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