Yahoo News Amir Khan: I liked tear-ups too much... but I can't afford to lose my head in the ring again
Amir Khan insists he will deal ruthlessly with Phil Lo Greco on Saturday night without losing his head over their bitter exchange of insults.
There is a real dislike between the two fighters after Khan reacted to a mocking comment about his wife by hurling a glass of water over the Canadian at a press conference in January.
Now Britain’s former light-welterweight world champion will end a near two-year absence when he takes on Lo Greco at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
Khan has exasperated several trainers in the past by abandoning his clever boxing skills to become embroiled in fierce battles. Lo Greco has attempted to intensify the rivalry this week by saying that he will send 31-year-old Khan into retirement.
Khan said: “I need to keep emotion out of this. I can’t let Lo Greco get under my skin. I’m older and I’m wiser. I have learned from my mistakes.
“I have a style that is made for boxing clever but I liked a tear-up too much. The sport is about hitting and not being hit. It is not about losing your head. There will be times when I let go — but it will be at the right time.
“I am going to be smart and box and move. Then, when it is time, I will put him away. There are big fights out there for me if I come through this. I haven’t boxed for nearly two years so I know I need to put on a good show.
“I feel good and sharp. Yes, I have been out of the ring for such a long time and I thought it would be hard going when I came back but the break has helped me. My body has had a rest — I never had a break before. I feel much better.”
Khan’s career has followed an erratic path since he suffered successive defeats to Americans Lamont Peterson, who afterwards admitted using a banned substance, and Danny Garcia, losing his WBA and IBF titles in the process.
Five wins followed the defeat by Garcia but then Khan took the bold step of moving up two divisions to middleweight to challenge Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2016. And the move went badly, as he suffered a stunning sixth-round knockout.
The issue of banned drugs has since returned, with Alvarez this week being suspended for six months after giving two positive samples containing the performance-enhancer clenbuterol.
Khan added: “I will never know if he had used anything before we met. But now he has been caught he should be banned for life.
“He is a cheat who may have endangered other boxers.
“I have a style that is made for boxing clever but I liked a tear-up too much
“Maybe he was on something. Maybe he wasn’t. But I remember how much weight he put on; from 155lb at the weigh-in to more than 170lb. I could see it on him. If he wasn’t taking anything, maybe the shot he hit me with wouldn’t have done the damage it did.
“It’s so dangerous because you are adding something extra to the power to hurt. This isn’t like athletics. People get killed in the ring.
“But I am not going to use it as an excuse, he beat me as the better man.”
A new trainer — American Joe Goossen — will be in Khan’s corner after his regular mentor Virgil Hunter fell ill.
Lo Greco, who has won 28 of his 31 fights but lost against two opponents of Khan’s class — Shawn Porter abnd Errol Spence Jr — is considered a journeyman ideal for offering the Briton a tune-up return to action.
Khan’s long-term aim after signing a three-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn is to fight British rival Kell Brook, the former IBF welterweight world champion.
He will alternatively seek to challenge current IBF title holder Spence, WBC and WBA champion Keith Thurman or the WBO belt holder Jeff Horn.
Khan said: “It’s a great time for British boxing so it’s a great time to be back.
“I could fill a stadium against Brook and I am coming back to take on all the big names.”
Live tomorrow on Sky Sports Main Event & Action, from 7pm
