British Boxing: Khan Can’t Wait

Professional sensation Amir Khan says he can’t wait to fight at the Millennium Stadium on July 8 – and reckons a bumper crowd will inspire him to his best ever performance. Khan extended his winning streak to 7-0 in Belfast over the weekend when he comfortably beat former European lightweight title challenger Laszlo Komjathi.

A capacity crowd at the Kings Hall gave him a welcome fit for a world champion – and Khan is hoping the fans get behind him in Cardiff when he fights on a card with seven title contests on it, including Joe Calzaghe’s homecoming bout following victory over Jeff Lacy in March.

“It will be a great show with all those title fights and hopefully the atmosphere will be brilliant,” said 19-year-old Khan. “The way the crowds have got behind me so far in my career has been very exciting and it gives you that extra push. The response makes me feel like I’m fighting for a title and makes me want to do that little bit better.

“I got a fantastic reception in Cardiff when I fought there in September and I’m glad I’m fighting there again so soon. And it’s a real honour to be on the same card as Calzaghe. What he did against Jeff Lacy was such an inspiration, and I’d love to follow in his footsteps over the next few years.”

Khan will take a week off after his Belfast victory and may go abroad for a short holiday, but will be back in the gym on Monday to prepare for his eighth professional outing, which will take place over six rounds.

Promoter Frank Warren already has a short list of potential opponents, but Khan isn’t that fussed about who he fights.

“I don’t really mind if its a British fighter or another foreign guy,” said Khan. “To fight someone from the UK would be good, but its down to Frank and I’ll fight whoever he wants me to. Beating Komjathi has given me so much confidence, especially going six rounds for the first time.

“I spar for eight rounds in the gym, and when I finished the fight I didn’t feel that tired. I could have fought eight rounds at that pace and still been fine.”

While Joe Calzaghe tops the card with Khan as a special attraction, there are six more mouth-watering fights that ensure July 8 will be the show of the year.

Danny Williams defends his Commonwealth heavyweight title against Matt Skelton in a rematch of their February 2006 thriller, Gary Lockett defends his WBU middleweight against Ryan Rhodes, Tony Doherty puts his Celtic welterweight crown on the line against Taz Jones and Gavin Rees and Martin Watson duke it out for the Celtic lightweight crown.

WBU cruiserweight king and WBO number one Enzo Maccarinelli is also in action, as well as Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce.