Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan: Brit claims he has ‘spotted weaknesses’ in ‘very beatable’ champion

The Brit is motivated as an underdog for just the second time in his career after being knocked out by Canelo Alvarez

On the one and only other time in his career when Amir Khan entered the ring feeling like an underdog, he ended the evening flat on his back in the centre of it with a concerned Saul Alvarez kneeling by his side.

Against the advice of his trainer Virgil Hunter, the Bolton man had stepped up two weight divisions to face the Mexican also known as Canelo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in May of 2016.

Despite a bright start, he was knocked out cold in the sixth round and it was suggested that his 11-year career had just been ended by his opponent’s right hand.

Instead, the defeat was a prelude to a two-year ring hiatus which ended when he beat up Phil Lo Greco and Samuel Vargas within the space of five months last year. He was the heavy favourite in both of those contests and more or less every other fight in his career.

But, like they were in Las Vegas 35 months ago, the odds are stacked against Khan again as pound-for-pound stylist Terence Crawford will be waiting for him in Madison Square Garden on Saturday week.

“It feels different being the underdog,” Khan said. “It’s very different because it’s only the second fight in my whole career that I’m going into as the underdog. The one against Canelo and now this one. It makes me want to prove a point, come out strongly and win this fight even harder.

“Whatever Crawford brings to the table I’m going to have an answer for. This is a more realistic fight that I could win because obviously I’m not up against someone who is bigger than me, that is stronger than me. I’m fighting someone in more fair of a fight [than Canelo].

“I just think that people are thinking that I’ve got no chance but I’ve been watching videos of Crawford and he’s very beatable, especially with a style like mine.”

If the 31-year-old from Omaha is ‘very beatable’, none of his 34 opponents to date have managed to come anywhere near to getting the better of him. The switch-hitter, the current holder of the WBO welterweight title, has ended all but nine of his fights inside the distance and unified the light-welterweight division before stepping up to 147lbs in June.

“Look, I have spotted weaknesses,” added Khan, who has poured over video footage of Crawford from his training base in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

“He’s a very good fighter – he picks his shots really well but there’s ways of beating that and I just feel that I know exactly what to do. I’ve fought many styles in my career, in sparring and especially at the high level and amateur fights.

“That sort of style does suit me and sometimes he likes to come forward which will definitely suit me. If he comes forward looking for it, that will make it even better. I think it’s a great style for me and I believe I will win this fight.”

Khan, now 32, is back in the Bay again after a brief sojourn to Los Angeles, where he worked under Joe Goossen in preparation for his last two fights.

He had made the switch after his trainer Hunter suffered a severe allergic reaction to prescribed medication which left him in a deep coma. But with Hunter back on his feet and back in the gym, Khan is on familiar ground once again.

He said: “Life in LA was just so fast whereas in the Bay Area it’s just more chilled out and relaxed and laid back. When I’m in the Bay Area, all I do is come home, relax and chill out.

“In LA it took me nearly 40 minutes getting to the gym. To cover eight miles it would take you about an hour stuck in traffic. There are so many people you know over there, so many friends.

“Sometimes it’s good to get away from everything and it helps me to be here. None of my friends want to come over here because it’s so boring.

“It has all been going brilliant. I’ve been getting so many messages from people who have seen me training that say I look like I’m in my 20s again. I’m just enjoying every minute of it because I don’t know how long it’s going to last, right? At the moment it’s going really well so I’m loving it.”

But Khan is not the only Brit in Hunter’s Hayward gym these days as Chris Eubank Jr has also began working under the 65-year-old coach.

“I haven’t had a chance to invite him round for dinner yet because I’m on such a strict diet,” Khan said.

Khan was knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in the only fight where he was an underdog (Getty)

“But look he’s a lovely lad and it’s the first time I’ve ever spent any time with him and he comes across as a nice guy.

“A lot of people take him the wrong way when they don’t know him and obviously they’ve seen him in interviews and stuff and I’m probably one of them. But now I’ve met him and spent time with him I’ve got to say he’s a nice guy, man.

“Virgil has a very busy gym and he’s handling it very well. He’s in great shape and he’s doing a great job. He’s the best he’s ever been.”

Amir Khan challenges undefeated Terence Crawford for the WBO World Welterweight belt, live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday 20th April. For more information go to https://www.bt.com/sport/box-office/