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Freddie calls Khan KO
Expect an early finish, says legendary trainer
By Tim Hobbs Last updated: 24th November 2009
Roach: expecting early finish
Salita's tough guy and a boxer but I think Amir's a better fighter and a better puncher and we're going to break him down and hopefully get him out of there in the late rounds.
Freddie Roach
Quotes of the week
Amir Khan v Dmitriy Salita
WBA Light-Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office & in HD
8.00pm, Saturday, December 5
Channel 743 & 752
Call 08442 410888 for details
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Freddie Roach is backing Amir Khan to finish his First Defence early.
The legendary trainer has called Manny Pacquiao's last three fights perfectly and is already making predictions as his British charge prepares to take on Dmitriy Salita, live on Sky Box Office.
Khan went the distance when winning the WBA light-welterweight title against Andriy Kotelnik in July, but has stopped 15 of his 21 victims inside the distance.
And Roach, who called Pacquiao's victories over Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya to the very round and was not far wrong with Miguel Cotto, is confident he will make it a sweet 16 on December 5.
"Obviously he's the No 1 challenger, but I think Amir will get him out of there somewhere along the way," he told skysports.com.
"Salita came to train in my gym in Los Angeles a while back - he and his rabbi popped along. He's a good technical boxer, but nothing spectacular.
"He's a good solid fighter, does the fundamentals OK, but Amir's speed will be too much for him.
"Salita's tough guy and a boxer but I think Amir's a better fighter and a better puncher and we're going to break him down and hopefully get him out of there in the late rounds. It will be a tough fight, but we'll soften him up in the end."
Roach and Khan arrived in England on Saturday morning to finalise preparations for the Newcastle showdown.
They will continue to spar up to as late as the Monday before the fight, but the trainer says is that ferocious preparation that makes the 22-year-old such a firm favourite.
Khan has been sparring with Pacquiao in Los Angeles - where Roach has been offering sparring partners $1,000 dollars if they can floor his fighters - and gives as good as he gets.
"Amir needs a little more maturing but for the first four rounds, it's always about even," said Roach.
"Manny will take over after that because he has a bit more experience. He's been with us just over a year and he always works his ass off. In my gym, this ain't for fun. It ain't easy, all my guys work hard, I don't have time for lazy people.
"I always offer a bet to my sparring partners if they can knock my fighters down - and my money's still in my pocket!
"Amir is faster than when we first got him because he's lost a lot of that muscle mass. He's a lot leaner now and when him and Manny Pacquiao spar, they really go at it because they both have speed and power."
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Comments (10)
Jonny Pilkington says...
It really would be amazing to see Manny and Amir sparring! Must be incredible for Amir to have Manny's ability as a boxer as his target. I really think Amir can go on to claim more titles but i do think he might lose some fights on the way. I think he's more of a pretty boy floyd than he is Pacman. As he goes up weights he will need to be more technical or the bigger punchers will knock him out.
Posted 12:18 25th November 2009
Lee Moore says...
khan is a real talent and salita is a good test as too how good he is the chin isnt the best but as the years go bye think his punch resistence will increase and 5 fights down the line could see a world class fighter ermerge in khan right now hes very green to get in there with hatton who no matter who writes him is stil a beast at 140 lbs british boxings got some great fighter comeing frew now and khan is the best of the punch 22 by 27 be in his prime and could be a p4p number 1 with roach in his corner he can only keep geting better
Posted 12:09 25th November 2009
Jonny Inglis says...
If Amir is that good, why does he not go back and beat Prescott? Lennox Lewis always went back to avenge silly defeats like that. I still believe Khan has a glass jaw and any good, hard hitting fighter will knock him out with ease. Sparring isn't proper hard hitting boxing. I hope he does fight Hatton because Ricky would put him in his place (on the canvas)!!!
Posted 12:07 25th November 2009
Scott Clements says...
Amir Khan is still very young and clearly learning. Hooking up with Roach is the smartest thing he could have done and will probably ever do in his career. He will treble his experience and learning with Roach and sparring with great fighters like Pacquaio can only improve you. Khan will beat Salita within the distance, possibly by stoppage. I agree that it will be interesting to see what Khan can do against some real world class opponents at Welterweight. For me he's not ready to be let loose on the likes of Cotto, Marquez, Mosley, Margarito, Judah etc.....I think he needs to just keep defending that title, gradually fighter better opponents and gain more ring knowledge and experience, then he will be ready to fight for more world titles and to take on the big-names in Vegas etc. Good luck to him, I do think he has what it takes to be a boxing great and I think Roach will 100% have improved his defence, but there's one thing Roach nor anybody else can improve and that's Khan's questionable chin.......time will only tell!!
Posted 10:48 25th November 2009
Akram M says...
Amir is much better fighter under Freddie, he has the potential to be one of the greatest fighter, and sparring with manny will make amir acheieve his goal sooner than later. All the best and sucess inshallah come next year u will have another title to youre name
Posted 23:33 24th November 2009
Jamaal Iqbal says...
amir will be too fast and too strong for salita he needs to use his brain in this fight dont stay flat footed dont let salita get the body punches in. he needs to throw his punches and be out of there! Good look AMIR KING KHAN
Posted 19:08 24th November 2009
Amir Khan says...
Amir Khan will win easily. Kevin Mitchell will get destroyed by Prescott. Not only is Prescott a big lightweight..Mitchell is also moving up. So the size difference will be noticeable.
Posted 17:43 24th November 2009
Zaber Khan says...
Amir Khan will go on to win more world titles under the guidance of Freddie Roach, he has improved as a fighter already and he will clear up his weight division very soon and move up.. Sparring with Manny is such a bonus for Amir as you only get better by training with worlc class fighters....
Posted 16:39 24th November 2009
Trevor Mccarter says...
Wudnt it be wonderful to see amir and manny spar live, just to see if we have got the real thing in amir!! i honestly think amir will take salita inside the distance but it still leaves a question mark on amir's ability against real world class fighters! was the prescott fight a 1 off or has amir improved to that level?? only time will tell but as always i will be cheering khan on.
Posted 16:18 24th November 2009
Dan M says...
good luck amir and cant wait see the prescott v mitchel fight too
Posted 15:38 24th November 2009