20.09.08 – by James Slater – Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio arrived with a big reputation, and a then unbeaten Amir Khan was busy telling everyone he would become an “untouchable” fighter with Rubio’s coaching. Well, some two weeks after being annihilated by the big-punching Breidis Prescott, reportedly an opponent Rubio recommended, the Cuban with the big reputation has been fired by Khan..
This news has been reported today, by The Sun newspaper, and the word is Khan will be looking to get experienced and proven trainer Freddie Roach to replace Rubio. Initially, after he’d recovered from the 54 second nightmare he had against Colombia’s Prescott, Khan said he’d stick with Rubio and would not get rid of him. The 21-year-old who believes he can come again has obviously had a rethink.
“We are away this weekend but will be making a formal statement about Amir’s training regime next week,” Khan’s business manager Asif Vali said.
Roach also made a brief comment about possibly being Khan’s next trainer.
“Amir is coming here to California with his father and attorney,” Roach revealed. “They want to talk to me about rebuilding his career. I heard he suffered a bad knock out.”
Indeed he did, but if anyone can rebuild Khan it’s Roach. With a hugely proven track record over the past fifteen or twenty years or so, Roach has worked with the best. Gifted at working his own subtle magic in the corner, as well as in the gym, Freddie is without doubt one of the best. Should he land the job, Roach will actually be the fourth trainer in Khan’s young career. It is to be hoped the former Olympian will be able to make it with Roach, if and when he does in fact hire him.
The word is Khan will make his return to the ring for the first time since the Prescott disaster in December, against an opponent yet to be named. It will be very interesting to see how Khan and Roach work together and if Freddie is able to improve the lightweight’s defence. Khan’s former trainer, Oliver Harrison, who was replaced by Rubio, was very critical of the Cuban and what he was teaching the hot prospect. In hindsight, Harrison being replaced by Rubio was a complete failure. One thing’s for sure, Freddie Roach will be unable to do any worse than Rubio did in his all too brief spell with Khan.
We can expect an official announcement some time next week, but it seems as though Roach is favourite to land the job as the new trainer of a fighter who has a long road ahead of him if he’s to win over the critics who said he was over-hyped all along.