by James Slater – With his May 15th fight with the respected Paulie Malignaggi fast approaching, WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has been talking about this fight and his big plans for the future should he win in New York in what will be his American debut. And the 23-year-old who left Frank Warren and signed with Golden Boy earlier this year sure has set some lofty goals for himself. Or at least Golden Boy have the confidence required to set their latest fighter some lofty goals.
Speaking today, as quoted by The Times, Khan gave away Golden Boy’s plans for him over the coming 18 months or so.
“They have laid out a plan that over the next 18 months I will be fighting the likes of Manny Pacquiao or [Floyd] Mayweather – big, big names,” Khans told The Times. “If they are seeing me with those guys, they must see something in me. Time will tell if they are right..”
Oscar De La Hoya said how he feels Khan is capable of going to the stratosphere and that he will be the next great to come out of England.
“We strongly feel Amir Khan can be the next great fighter to come out of England,” De La Hoya said. “He has a tough challenge in front of him [with Malignaggi], but we want to prove to the world he can become what we think he can become – a great champion.”
It would have been impossible to even think of putting Khan’s name next to that of Pacquiao back when the Bolton man was being wrecked inside a minute by Breidis Prescott, yet Khan showed heart and desire in coming back with wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, Andreas Kotelnik and, last time out, and in devastating fashion, Dmitriy Salita. And now it does appear as though the Olympic silver medallist could be on the verge of some genuine super-fights.
Of course, 18 months is a long time in boxing and a lot could happen. For example, the two superstars Amir mentioned the possibility of him facing, in Pac-Man and “Money,” may well be retired by then. Or, as is perhaps more of a possibility, Khan could lose. Certainly, Malignaggi, as he made clear when the two came face-to-face at a London press conference to hype the fight, is not taking this fight for just the payday.
“I am a much better fighter today than when I fought Ricky Hatton,” Malignaggi said. “I have been inconsistent a lot, but there have been shining moments where I have looked tremendously good. I feel I am getting back to that point now.”
Khan himself, when speaking on his upcoming fight, said he expects the fight to be “electric” and that due to his and Paulie’s style, combined with the heart and reluctance to quit both men have, the bout could even be the fight of the year.
But will Khan win and then look to become a superstar himself, or will “the Magic Man’s” recent return to form continue on May 15th?