Bolton’s Amir Khan has penned a new deal to work with influential boxing advisor Al Haymon.
Khan is the latest in a string of prominent boxers to sign with Haymon, a powerful and mysterious figure who works with some of the most coveted fighters in the sport.
Haymon currently manages pound-for-pound King Floyd Mayweather, three-time world champion Adrien Broner and reigning WBC and WBA light welterweight champion Danny Garcia.
“He has the best fighters in the game on his roster,” Khan told The National. “Boxing is a tough sport and we boxers are sometimes not treated the right way.
“Al Haymon has the boxers’ interest first. He advises us, he protects us and organises the best fights with the right opponents.
“He is a very good person. He has the biggest contacts and networks in the game.
“I have signed with him with the mind-set to be in the biggest fights in boxing and Al Haymon can do that for me.”
The change of advisor comes at a pivotal point in Khans career as he is set to take-on Luis Collazo in Las Vegas next month.
The former light-welterweight champion will make his welterweight debut on the undercard for Floyd Mayweather’s bout against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Arena on May 3.
The 27-year-old is poised to take on the veteran New Yorker with the winner possibly earning a shot at Mayweather’s crown.
However, going through Collazo (35-5, 18 KO) will not be easy and Khan is aware that he will need to be at his best to be victorious against the south-paw veteran.
The Olympic silver-medallist is also certain that boxing aficionados will be more interested in his bout, the penultimate fight on the card, rather than the main event.
“I can tell you, our fight will steal the show,” Khan added. “We are two exciting fighters, one with skills and speed and the other a big hitter.
“It is a 50-50 fight and that’s what the fans want to see.”
Khan (28-3, 19 KO) claims his attention is on the big-hitting American who has won nearly half his fights by knockout.
“I am ready,” he said. “I have all my focus on Luis Collazo and no one else.
“Collazo is a great fighter, a big puncher and I want to face the big hitters and prove my doubters wrong. I’ve been hearing non-stop from media and fans that I can’t handle big punchers.”
Khan’s critics are backing Collazo in the fight as the Bolton boxer has shown tendencies to get drawn into wars in the past..
“I’ve said this many times and I will say it again: I blame myself for being too careless and got caught against Garcia,” Khan said.
“I have improved a lot moving up to 147 pounds. I want to showcase my skills. I have a game plan and you will see the best of me on May 3.”
In the run-up to the big-money card Khan believes the highly anticipated clash between undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana is already a forgone conclusion.
Khan is certain that the Argentinian Maidana is no match for the current champ and Mayweather (45-0, 26 KO) will win the bout in comfortable fashion.
“We all know what is going to happen in the Mayweather-Maidana fight,” added Khan.
Maidana recently voiced his opinions about who he thought was the real winner of his fight with Khan when the pair fought in 2011, but the former light-welterweight champion has dismissed the claim.
“I don’t think there are any arguments left there,” Khan said.
“I dominated all the rounds and put him on the floor, except in the 10th round where I got hit by a couple of his big shots. But I was on my feet.
“If he manages to beat Mayweather and wants to re-fight me, I will give him a re-fight.”
Boxing fans will also be able to witness the highly anticipated bout between Carlos Molina and the well-regarded Adrien Broner in another matchup that Khan sees little merit in.
He said: “If they want to fight my left-overs, that’s fine with me.”
Image courtesey of Assem Saeed, with thanks.
