MANILA, Philippines - Kung mayroon mang dapat pasalamatan si Briton lightweight sensation Amir Khan bukod kay trainer Freddie Roach ito ay walang iba kundi si Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Sinabi ng 22-anyos na si Khan na malaki ang naitulong ng 30-anyos na si Pacquiao sa kanyang gameplan para talunin si Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera via ninth-round technical decision kamakalawa sa MEN Arena sa Manchester, England.
“When I was speaking to Manny he said that’s the way to beat him and that’s what we did,” ani Khan sa payo sa kanya ni Pacquiao bago sagupain ang 35-anyos na si Barrera, dalawang beses tinalo ni “Pacman” noong 2004 at 2006. “I spoke to him in the changing room after the fight he was watching it in America, and he was over the moon. It has paid off by listening to the right people.”
Si Khan, ang silver medalist sa 2004 Athens Olympic Games sa Greece, ang naging isa sa mga sparring partners ni Pacquiao sa kanyang paghahanda kay Oscar Dela Hoya noong Disyembre ng 2008.
May 20-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record ngayon si Khan kasama ang 15 KOs, habang may 65-7-0 (43 KOs) slate naman ang 35-anyos na si Barrera.
Kasalukuyang naghahanda si Pacquiao para sa kanyang paghahamon kay Briton world light-welter-weight champion Ricky Hatton sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ayon kay Khan, nakahanda siyang muling tulungan si Pacquiao sa pagiging sparmate sa Wildcard Boxing Gym ni Roach sa Hollywood, California.
“Yes, it does me good as well,” wika ni Khan. “He’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and if I can handle him and spar really well against him, then it’s going to take me to the next level.
“I’d love to help him, because he’s a friend. We have a good chat; we go for a run together in the mountains and stuff.”
Ito naman ay sinangayunan ni Roach.
“It is definitely a possibility that Amir could spar with Manny for the Hatton fight, yeah,” ani Roach kay Khan. “I love using Amir because when you can handle his speed you are sharp and can deal with anybody. He doesn’t have the exact same style as Hatton, but work is work and getting sharp is part of the game.”
Maliban sa 49-anyos na si Roach, si Pacquiao rin ang tinitingala ni Khan, kababayan ni Hatton, sa loob at labas ng boxing ring.
“He helps me out with some good advice, and it’s good to have someone to look up to.” (RCadayona)