Khan ready to Pac a punch

Khan: To spar with Pacquiao

Freddie says he wants me to spar with Pacquiao. I'm going to experience being in an uncomfortable zone and will have to learn how to deal with it.

Amir Khan
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• World champions
• On Sky TV
• Messageboards

Amir Khan has revealed that he will become a new sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao as he prepares to get his career back on track under new coach Freddie Roach.

A staggering 54-second knockout defeat by Breidis Prescott in Manchester last month rocked the Bolton boxers' charge toward a world title fight and has prompted Khan to rethink his strategy ahead of his next bout.

The 21-year-old will head to Hollywood on October 14 to work with new trainer Roach, and he will spar with Pacquiao, who faces Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas on December 6.

And Khan, who parted company with previous coach Jorge Rubio after the Prescott defeat, revealed how impressed he was after just one session with his new trainer.

"I went to do one session with him and ended up doing three," Khan told the Times.

"I picked up so much in just three days. Most coaches tell you to do things in training, but they don't tell you why.

Criticised

"Freddie explains everything and always made sure I knew why he was getting me to do things. Normally when guys would come to my gym, they would learn off me, but I was learning so much off them."

Khan also admitted the pain he felt after watching the tape of his dramatic defeat and hopes tough sessions with 'Pac Man' will help him improve.

"I had to watch the fight, you have to see what you did wrong," Khan said. "But from now I'm going to be having some tough sparring sessions.

"Freddie says he wants me to spar with Pacquiao. I'm going to experience being in an uncomfortable zone and will have to learn how to deal with it.

"Because I was beaten it makes me realise I have to change a lot, stop a lot of the things I was doing - the appearances, the dinner dos.

"I've got to focus on my job because the next few years will be crucial. I will have six weeks over there, just be totally chilled and get away from it all."