Khan - I'm with the greats now

Bolton ace eyeing Hatton showdown

By Ben Sullivan   Last updated: 22nd August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Khan - I'm with the greats now
KHAN v PRESCOTT
Live on Sky Box Office & HD
9pm, Saturday, September 6
Channel 743 & 752
Call 08442 410 888 to book
Click here for full details

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British boxing sensation Amir Khan has spoken of his delight at joining the legends of the fight game on Sky Box Office.

The 21-year-old Commonwealth lightweight champion will make his Box Office debut on September 6 against unbeaten lightweight Breidis Prescott at the MEN Arena in Manchester, the first event in a multi-fight deal that is expected to take the Olympic silver medalist to a world title.

The Bolton star is relishing the prospect, telling Sky Sports News: "To be up with Naz, Chris Eubank, Frank Bruno, Mike Tyson - they are living legends. To be alongside them on Sky Box Office, it means a lot to me and my family. When I took up boxing at the age of eight, this was my dream."

As for his Colombian opponent, Khan added: "He is a well-known name in the USA, he has had 19 fights, won 19 with 17 KOs, so he brings an undefeated record, as do I. It's going to be a tough fight but I have been training hard for this fight. I am going to go in there with one thought in my head which is to go in there and win."

And he has a warning for Sky Box Office viewers: "Don't blink. My fights are very explosive. Anything can happen."

Progress

Khan has started working with his new coach Jorge Rubio and is happy with the progress they are making together. "There were a few coaches I had on the list," he said. "I trained with every coach and I just gelled with Rubio. Since then I took him on and I think he's a brilliant coach.

"We have been working on different techniques. He has got my defence coming on a lot, better than it was before, also working on new techniques that I didn't use before. It's going to make me a totally different fighter. He has changed my style a lot but it is for the best.

"Sometimes I get too confident, my hands drop. I've got to stay focused all the way in the fight, keep the hands up, just don't give the opponent a chance in the fight because once I give him a chance, they get their confidence and the fight can go the other way.

"Boxing is a dangerous sport - one punch can change a fight around, so I am not going to give my opponents a chance any more. I am just going to go in there and do a job."

Hatton fight

There has been speculation this week of a possible all-British showdown between Khan and world light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. Khan is keen for that fight to happen.

"Hopefully it could be," he added. "In 12 months time I want to move up a weight and definitely that is a fight of the future that the British public want to see. I'd love the fight myself. Ricky is a great champion. He has done it the hard way and it would be brilliant to share the same ring as him and put a great fight on for the British fans."