Amir Khan believes victory over Martin Kristjansen on Saturday will provide a springboard to world dominance.
British ace has world title in his sights
Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan believes victory over Martin Kristjansen on Saturday will provide a springboard to world dominance.
The 135lb division has been thrown wide open recently, with shock victories for veterans Nate Campbell and Joel Casamayor, and Khan believes the time is right to prove his critics wrong.
"I want to clean up the lightweight division and I have no doubts I will be world champion by the end of this year," he said. "It is there for whoever is able to take the chance and I am the man to do it.
"I think with my pace and speed I would wear them down. My hand speed and my power has won fights so far but going the 12-round distance last time has given me a lot of confidence.
"The first time I fought Mario Kindelan in the amateurs I was beaten by experience. By the time I fought him again, I had the experience and I beat him.
"Getting experience is one of the key things in my career but it is going to be my 17th fight on Saturday and I am getting better and better. This fight is going to take me to the next level."
And promoter Frank Warren is confident he can get Khan a fight with WBA/IBF/WBO champion Campbell before the year is out, provided the jewel in the Sports Network crown gets past Kristjansen.
"A win will give him a fantastic opportunity to fight for a world title sooner rather than later," said Warren. "We're looking at Campbell and with a bit of luck we will get there by the end of the year."
The WBC champion David Diaz earned his stripes by ending the career of Erik Morales last year, and is slated to fight another ring legend, Manny Pacquiao, in June.
