Khan: I'll be Britain's best

Khan: best of British

I do believe he is the prospect in the world right now. Now he's getting his chances over here, I definitely feel he's on the right path. He's the UK's next superstar.

Freddie Roach
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Andreas Kotelnik v Amir Khan
WBA Light-Welterweight title
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Amir Khan says he is the future of British boxing.

The Bolton star will become only our second world champion if he defeats WBA light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik, live on Sky Box Office, on July 18.

And with Joe Calzaghe retired and Ricky Hatton coming to the end of his career, the 22-year-old is ready to take over their mantle and become British boxing's biggest star.

"I do think they need a new start in British boxing and I think it will be me," he told Sky Sports.

"Winning the next fight will open a lot of doors for me and I do think it will be good for British boxing."

Should Khan win he will join WBC supper-middleweight boss Carl Froch - who is backing him to beat Kotelnik - as the only other Brit to hold a world belt.

But just as importantly it will propel him into world-class, where he can take on the biggest names in the game, with Ricky Hatton already being touted as his next opponent.

"I need these fights to get me where I want to get to," said Khan.

"I'm a fan of Ricky Hatton, it would be a great fight for the British public, two great fighters and two of the biggest boxers in Britain.

"I know I can beat Kotelnik and I know I can take the world title from him. In the future the likes of Marquez, Mayweather and those guys, I'm not saying I can beat them now, but I know when I do hit my peak, these guys are beatable and I've got the style to beat a lot of fighters."

Khan's rejuvenation since the shocking 19-second knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott has been masterminded by trainer Freddie Roach.

And the man who predicted Manny Pacquiao would beat both Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton and called Khan's impressive win over the great Marco Antonio Barrera believes his charge can do more than give British boxing a shot in the arm.

"I do believe he is the prospect in the world right now," said Roach. "Now he's getting his chances over here, I definitely feel he's on the right path. He's the UK's next superstar."

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