04.09.08 – by James Slater: Unbeaten lightweight star Amir Khan is in an incredibly confident mood ahead of his very first pay-per-view fight this Saturday. The 21-year-old former Olympic medallist will face the likewise unbeaten Breidis Prescott, a puncher who has vowed to stop Khan, but Amir has no doubt he will win. Citing his new trainer, Cuba’s Jorge Rubio, as one of his chief assets today, the 19-0 Khan has gone as far as saying he’ll be “untouchable” as soon as he’s a had a few more fights with his new coach.
“After meeting Jorge and learning the things I had never done before, it showed me how much I was behind,” Khan said. “He has taught me so much in eight weeks and I know in another two or three fights, I will be untouchable. I am a quick learner, I pick up things quicker than most fighters and I’m young and hungry. It’s been like a switch back to the amateur days, back to basics, with a lot of speed work. Everything’s gone so well I feel strong and fit and I’ve made the weight easier. As soon as we get the structure right and get some fights under my belt, I will be perfect.”
It seems Khan has heard the criticism he has been given by some with regards to how he has been knocked down and hurt already in his young career. Khan says his defence has been tightened up by Rubio. His new trainer says Khan will definitely be a world champion one day.
“This is the first time I have been working with him and he is at 90-percent of his potential at the moment but he will be 100-percent in the future,” Rubio said. “He needs to get more power behind his speed and we have been working on his defence. But he will be the world champion one day.”
There will be a lot on the line for Khan in two day’s time, and he and new trainer Rubio will be under much scrutiny by the experts. Will Khan look an improved, less defensively vulnerable fighter under the Cuban? Will the two work well in the corner and, should the situation arise, in times of crisis? These things and others are what the critics and experts will be looking out for. Also, Khan will be under some pressure to give a good, exciting, value-for-money performance – this bout only being available to those fans willing to pay £14.95 (approx $30.00).
Against a confident sounding puncher like the undefeated Prescott, the stage is set for Amir Khan to shine!