Prescott 'was Khan's choice'

Amir asked Warren to make the match that ended in defeat

Last updated: 8th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Prescott 'was Khan's choice'

Khan: KO'd by his own choice

To tell you the truth Amir wanted this fight - that is why we put it together. He told Frank 'I this is the fight I want, he's a puncher but I want to go in there and hopefully come through it'.

Shah Khan
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Amir Khan's father has revealed that it was his son who wanted the fight with Breidis Prescott.

The Bolton boxer was sent crashing to his first professional defeat in just 54 seconds at the MEN Arena on Saturday night.

The stunning knockout not only raised questions about Khan's chin but also about the match-making process and just who selected the hard-hitting Colombian.

Frank Warren hinted that new trainer, Jorge Rubio, had suggested Prescott as an opponent and the claims were backed up by Shah Khan, who says his son had asked to take on the man from Barranquilla - presumably after talking to his coach.

"Obviously it was a big step for him and these things happen in boxing," he told Sky Box Office. "He wanted to go up a step and this was a big step up for him.

"We knew he (Prescott) was a big puncher with 17 KO's in 19 and it was a big step up, but it was his choice. He wanted this fight, we told Frank and Frank put the fight together.

"You can't put the blame on anybody. To tell you the truth Amir wanted this fight - that is why we put it together. He told Frank 'I this is the fight I want, he's a puncher but I want to go in there and hopefully come through it'.

"But I don't think he was ready for this fight."

Stronger

The sight of her son collapsed in a heap was enough to leave Khan's mother Zeenat needing oxygen at ringside on a night that stunned British boxing.

Khan Senior was adamant that the Olympic silver medallist will bounce back from a first defeat in 19 paid contests, but did urge the 21-year-old to take things a little slower on his return.

"I'm sure he's going to go back to the gym and work hard," he said.

"He needs to slow down a little bit; he wants to get to the top and I reckon he wants to get there quicker than we think he should.

"He's got plenty of time ahead of him, he's only young, he's still only 21 and I'm sure he'll bounce back stronger.

"These things can happen. We knew one day there would be a loss against him and that day came today. But that doesn't mean that he's finished or anything like that.

"I'm positive that he's going to come back a lot stronger."

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