Graham Earl has warned Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan he will be "shutting him up" when they meet in the ring.
Challenger planning a birthday treat for Commonwealth champion
Graham Earl has warned Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan that he will be "shutting him up" on December 8.
Khan will put his belt on the line at the Bolton Arena on the day he celebrates his 21st birthday.
The pair have already been involved in an angry war of words at press conferences to promote the fight, and now Earl has come out all guns blazing.
The former British, Commonwealth and WBU champion has compared Khan to Bart Simpson and suggested one of his previous opponents - Willie Limond - "couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag".
Smart answer
"My kids were watching the Simpsons the other day, and it dawned on me that Amir Khan is just like Bart," said Earl.
"He always thinks he's got a smart answer to everything I say, but his mouth won't get him anywhere when he gets in the ring with me.
"I prefer to let my fists do the talking, and believe me they'll be shutting him up in Bolton.
"Willie Limond couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag and he had Khan doing a funny dance, so imagine what will happen when I hit him on the chin.
"By the time I've finished with Amir he is going to be more like Lisa Simpson than Bart Simpson."
Earl's last outing was in February when he lost a gruelling WBO interim world title fight against Michael Katsidis.
The 29-year-old admits the memories of that night at Wembley are what is spurring him on to teaching Khan some manners.
Painful
"Memories of that defeat are so painful, and there's no way I'm prepared to lose again," he admitted.
"I'm going to give Khan a boxing lesson - and remind him he should respect his elders.
"To me, he's just a spoilt brat who needs to be taught a lesson, and what a lesson I'll teach him on December 8.
"Nothing will give me greater pleasure than going into Khan's backyard and giving him a spanking on his 21st birthday."
