Amir says Manny will KO Bradley

MANILA, Philippines - Former WBA/IBF lightwelterweight champion Amir Khan left Manila for Los Angeles last night and is ready to battle Lamont Peterson in a rematch that he expects to win convincingly at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on May 19.

Khan was in the country for over a month working initially with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza then trainer Freddie Roach in Baguio City. When Ariza took off to hook up with WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Los Angeles two weeks ago, Khan brought in former WBA heavyweight titlist David Haye’s strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares as replacement from London.

Peterson wrested the WBA/IBF titles from Khan via a disputed split 12-round decision in Washington, D. C. last December. Khan was docked two points by referee Joseph Cooper and would’ve won by a unanimous verdict without the deductions. The 2004 Olympic silver medalist from Bolton protested the decision, even pointing out the mysterious appearance of a man, later identified as Mustafa Ameen, apparently consorting with WBA supervisor Michael Welsh during the fight. Welsh was in charge of consolidating the judges scoresheets. After Peterson was declared the winner, Ameen was seen celebrating in the fighter’s corner. An immediate rematch was subsequently ordered for “multiple irregularities.”

“Amir learned a lot from the first fight and he will be looking at his mistakes very carefully and making sure he doesn’t make them again, most importantly, he learned a lot more about Peterson and what he can and can’t do,” said Khan’s uncle and chief adviser Tahir (Taz) Khan.

It was Tahir who echoed Khan’s sentiments about WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s title defense against unbeaten Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on June 9. Khan and Pacquiao were in camp together in Baguio City and will reunite at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles next week.

“Manny will knock out Bradley,” said Tahir. “Bradley is rough and dirty but hasn’t really got any power to trouble Manny. Manny will catch Bradley coming in and will be too fast and strong for him. It will be very similar to the (Ricky) Hatton fight.”

Regarding Hatton, Tahir said English fans didn’t take it against Pacquiao for sending the Hitman into retirement. “We know both fighters really well,” he said. “It was hard to watch as we expected a close, tough fight going the distance. The English public gave Ricky a lot of respect for going out there to fight the best and I’m sure they’ve forgiven Manny as they recognize him as one of the best fighters in the world.”

As for Roach, Tahir said Khan has total confidence in the celebrated trainer. “Freddie takes a fighter and brings out the best in him and also improves his weaknesses,” said Tahir. “Amir has learned to stick to a gameplan and also set up traps and use his brain rather than his heart during fights. Freddie teaches you so much sometimes, it’s too much to take in but it takes time and Amir will get there.”

Khan was only 17 when he settled for the silver medal after losing a 30-22 decision to Cuba’s Mario Kindelan in the Athens Olympic lightweight boxing finals in 2004. Asked to share his Olympic motivation with Filipino lightflyweight qualifier Mark Anthony Barriga, Khan said, “The best advice I can give is to go in there and enjoy it, that’s what I did…you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, soak up all the atmosphere, keep focused and go in there and have fun, some boxers will be going in there too seriously and they will be under a lot of pressure so take advantage of that.”

Tabares, 33, has gained an enviable reputation as a personal trainer, nutritionist, massage therapist and strength and conditioning coach with clients like Haye, actor Mickey Rourke, rapper Tinie Tempah and Chelsea football star John Terry. He is a two-time English schools and European junior 400-meter hurdles champion.

Khan plans to travel to Las Vegas from Los Angeles a week before the rematch with Peterson.