Sport

Going to America…again: Amir Khan plans stateside return and to get Floyd Mayweather in the ring

By Ed Owen

Amir Khan is targeting Floyd Mayweather and a successful return to American soil after his stop-start win against Julio Diaz in Sheffield.

The Bolton-born boxer outpointed former lightweight world champion Diaz in a unanimous decision to continue his rehabilitation under new trainer Virgil Hunter.

But now the 26-year-old is aiming for old IBF and WBA light-welterweight belts, taken from him by Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia in the space of seven months.    

“There are a few names we’re looking at,” said Khan about his future ambitions. “I want to face the likes of Garcia and Peterson.

“I want to regain the world title and then jump into the ring with Floyd Mayweather and other big names.”

However, the Lancashire speed merchant admitted his quest for world honours would mean he is unlikely to return to British shores again.

“I think my next fight will be in the States,” he said. “Most title holders are in America and not many like to travel.

“It’s difficult to get a fight in England. They’re not like me who will travel to another country, even when I’m world champion.”

Traditionally a quick starter, Khan flew out of the gates and utilised his impressive hand speed, burying his opponent under a trademark avalanche of flurries.

Yet Khan’s habit of getting into unnecessary wars has almost put paid to his top-level ambitions and so it showed in the fourth after he waded in only to be tagged by a mean left hook.

Beating the count and showing remarkable signs of recuperation, the former Olympic silver-medallist imposed himself on proceedings despite eating some huge blows in the later rounds.

And after closing out an exciting unanimous decision, Khan was quick to address the knockdown, the one black mark on his otherwise impressive performance.

“I was off-balance and just got collared at the same time,” he said. “It’s a learning curve – If I was on balance I would have been fine.

“I wasn’t really hurt from the knockdown. I knew I’d made a mistake – overall, I was happy with my performance.

“The pace of the fight was good but I’ve still got a few things to work on.”

Image courtesy of Box Nation, via YouTube, with thanks

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