Khan pounds the mitts of Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym (above)

BY: Robert Epstein - Latest Boxing News www.diamondboxing.com

On December 6 Amir Khan will enter the ring again exactly three months removed from his first professional defeat. Khan back on September 6 suffered a first round stunning 54 second knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott in a bout held at MEN Arena in Manchester. The new Khan, fresh off several weeks of training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California under the watchful eye of his new trainer Freddie Roach is set to face Oisin Fagan and his pressure style.

Prior to the Prescott lose Khan replaced trainer Oliver Harrison with Miami-based former Cuban Olympic coach Jorge Rubio. With his chin still in question Khan now looks towards the experienced Roach for help. Roach who is committed to be in the corner of Manny Pacquiao on December 6 in Vegas, will not be in Khan’s corner for the Fagan bout, however has a lot of faith in Khan who he believes is a world champion in the making. While at the Wild Card Gym, Khan spent three hours a day with Roach working on various techniques including his defense.

Khan gets instructions from Roach (above).

When asked if the KO lose to Prescott hurt his confidence Khan responded “Not at all to be honest, yes it put a big dent in my career but I’m back and more confident than ever”. “I’ve got a point to prove now, and it’s actually made me a better fighter, I’ve changed a lot of things and maybe it was a good thing what happened in the last fight, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been training in the States with the best”.

While training in the U.S. at the Wild Card Gym, Khan had the opportunity to train alongside the pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for his Dream Match with Oscar De La Hoya.For Khan sparring with Pacquiao can go along way in the soon to be 22 year olds boxing career, especially when observing the machine like workout routine of Pacquiao. When recently visiting the Wild Card Gym, Diamond Boxing asked Roach if training with Khan has helped Pacquiao in any way. Roach immediately perked upped and responded “Khan has a great, great jab and it’s faster than Oscar’s and better than Oscar’s” “If Manny can deal with Khan’s jab he can deal with anybodies jab”.

Khan works on his defense as he prepares for Judgment Day (above).

While December 6 is the Dream match for Pacquiao and De La Hoya it’s Judgment day for Amir Khan. He has been shown the canvas not only by Prescott but by the likes of Michael Gomez, Willie Limond and Rachid Drilzane, Khan on December 6 is looking to calm his critics who have labeled him as having a soft chin.  

Latest Boxing news www.diamondboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao

BY: Diane Bennett

The latest news on the Manny Pacquiao – Oscar De La Hoya potential clash is that both Top Rank who represents Pacquiao and De La Hoya’s Golden Boy met on Wednesday for two hours. However, there are still several details that need to be worked out according to sources this may take several more days. They sides are still discussing the weight limits, type of gloves and the split of the purse money. If this fight deal is completed it most likely will be in Vegas at the MGM on December 6th.

Also announced today was the rescheduling of the Joe Calzaghe – Roy Jones Jr. extravaganza which will be held at the Mecca of Boxing Madison Square Garden on November 8th. The fight will be shown on HBO PPV.

Ticket notice tomorrow Friday August 8th: Ricky Hatton – Paulie Malignaggi will go on sale at www.ticketmaster.com starting at 1pm EST. Bernard Hopkins – Kelly Pavlik tickets will go on sale at www.ticketmaster.com starting at 12pm EST