English boxer Amir Khan acknowledges the criticism of his defence after his shock first-round knockout at the fists of Colombian Breidis Prescott last month, but vows to iron out the flaws with new trainer Freddie Roach.
"I totally agree. But now with Freddie Roach, it's going to make me a better fighter. We will work on the defensive stuff. Because I have always said that I'm not the full package yet. There is lots of room for improvement in my style. I want defence and offence to all come naturally," Khan told XPRESS.
On the brief encounter with Prescott that lasted 54 seconds, he said: "It happened so quickly, so it didn't affect me. If it happens when it's the sixth or seventh round, it affects you because you think ‘I was winning the fight'. I'd like to fight him again in the near future just to prove that I'm a better fighter than this guy.
"I'm the guy who likes taking risks and overall at the end I have to be the winner. But I'm going to make sure I fight this guy again and beat him."
At 21, Khan leads a hectic life back in the UK devoting time to social work and publicity campaigns when he isn't trading punches in the ring. It is even alleged that his split with long-time trainer Oliver Harrison was due to Harrison's concerns about Khan's public engagements.
And in hindsight Khan, who was in Dubai to launch the Tejarah Executive – a new commercial tower in Ajman – said Harrison could feel vindicated after his defeat to Prescott.
"It justifies in the last fight what can happen. That's why I said this loss was good. Because it made people realise what I have to do. When I say ‘No, I don't want to do things' and I have to do them, this can happen."
With his next fight in 10 weeks, Khan insisted his mind will be solely on boxing. "This is my last commercial thing. After this I will be training for six weeks with no press, no interviews, no dinners, nothing, just 100 per cent focus."
Legendary encounter: When Amir met Ali
Few enjoy the privilege of meeting their heroes and Amir Khan is one of them. The young boxer from Bolton enjoyed a memorable meeting with the legendary Muhammad Ali three years ago and said it left him "gobsmacked".
"I looked up to him. I met him three years ago in Louisville, his hometown. To meet someone whom you look up to – you watched his fights, you read his books – in real life was amazing. I was gobsmacked. He can't speak much because of his illness but he can understand everything. I told him about the charity work I do and as I was telling him, he shook my hand, tapped me on my shoulder and lifted my hand up."
Khan added: "I would never ever fight the guy anytime because I have so much respect for him. I was shy and didn't know what to expect. It was the best experience in the world to meet Muhammad Ali especially as not everyone can meet him now. He knew who Amir Khan was and he was excited to meet me and was happy as well."
