LAS VEGAS: Britain’s Amir Khan plans to wake up American boxing fans to his skills on his Las Vegas debut on Saturday by turning out the lights on Marcos Maidana’s title dreams.
Khan will defend his World Boxing Association super-lightweight title against the Argentine mandatory challenger in what is expected to be the first step toward unifying titles in the division.
Khan, 23-1 with 17 knockouts, will face Maidana, 29-1 with 27 knockouts, for the right to tackle the winner of January’s fight between unbeaten US fighters Devon Alexander, 21-0 with 13 knockouts, and Tim Bradley, 26-0 with 11 knockouts. Three titles could be at stake when the final showdown comes later next year, but on his way to getting there, Khan wants to promote his own reputation among American fight fans.
“When I win this fight convincingly, people will realise how good Amir Khan is,” said Khan, who turned 24 on Wednesday.
Khan suffered his only loss in 2008 when knocked out by Colombia’s Breidis Prescott, a defeat that taught him not to predict knockouts, but simply fight a strong tactical bout and break known his opponent.
“That defeat gave me a wake-up call,” Khan said. “It was a blessing in disguise… I will be ready for anything.”
Khan’s trainer, veteran Freddie Roach, does not see his man dropping even one round, and much less losing his crown.
“We haven’t lost one round since we have been together. I don’t see us losing a round here either,” Roach said.
“I think (Khan) will knock him out in the later rounds.”
Maidana, 27, has retired 22 of his 27 foes in three rounds or less. He has four victories since losing his first world title fight last year to Andre Kotelnik, the man Khan beat five months later to claim the crown. “I’m hungry to get the title,” Maidana said. “I’m ready for anything.”
