It requires sacrifices - 'Do you think it's easy for a 23-year-old to ignore all the beautiful young women who come on to you when you start getting famous?' - but Amir Khan is now the heir apparent to Manny Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
The succession has been proclaimed here by Freddie Roach, master trainer of the PacMan and also Svengali to the lad from Bolton who combines being a world champion with setting an heroic example for Anglo-Muslim relations.
The two fastest guns in the ring and the trainer of both the year and the decade have set up their sweatshop in Hollywood en route from the Philippines to the fights which will further define their mastery.
Roach's legendary Wild Card Gym is where Pacquiao is girding himself to fight the heftier Antonio Margarito for his mind-boggling eighth world title in different divisions and where Khan is bracing himself to defend his light-welterweight crown against Argentine Marcos Maidana.After driving his global superstar and his English protege through their paces, Roach explains his anointing of Khan as the king-in- waiting. It is the final sparring session before they flew out of Pacquiao's typhoon-ravaged homeland which has convinced him: 'This is the first time Amir has got the better of Manny. It's always explosive when they spar. Lightning fast and bursting with pride. Like a cockfight.
'Manny is still ahead but he knows that Amir has come out on top at least once. Manny is still super quick and speed kills. But if anything Amir is just a tiny fraction faster now and his punching is getting more powerful by the day. Manny's punching is more dense but the gap between them is narrowing.
Need for speed: Khan is gathering pace in the gym and trainer Roach believes he is not far off from matching Pacquiao
Need for speed: Khan is gathering pace in the gym and trainer Roach believes he is not far off from matching Pacquiao
'Floyd Mayweather? No. Amir Khan is the only fighter out there who is close to catching Manny.'
How soon? Roach ponders speculation that the PacMan might hang up the gloves to concentrate on his political career as a Philippines congressman and says: 'I think Manny will give us two or three more fights. And that fits in with Amir reaching his peak in about 18 months.'
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao Amir Khan
Pac Man.............Nickname........King Khan
Dec 17, 1978..Date of birth..Dec 8, 1986
Kibawe..........Place of birth..........Bolton
5ft 6½in................ Height................ 5ft 10in
10st 4lb.................Weight...............9st 10lb
67in....................... Reach......................71in
W51 D2 L3............Record.......W23 D0 L1
67.9%..................... KO %..................70.8%
Explosive.............. Style.............Explosive
Pacquiao listens and is then noncommittal about his future beyond Margarito and the light-middleweight belt he intends winning in the Dallas Cowboys' stadium a fortnight tomorrow. Nor does he confirm or deny whether he may run for president once he does retire.
But in common with everyone here he is confident that Khan's speed and everything he is learning from their mutual work-outs will neutralise Maidana's knockout power and see him safely to victory in Las Vegas on December 11.
Frustratingly for those of us who look on from the safe side of the ropes, there is even less chance of Khan fighting Pacquiao for real than of the PacMan finally getting it on with Money Mayweather in that long-awaited but forever delayed $200million showdown.
'It won't happen with me and Manny,' says Khan.
'Not just because we're friends but because I could not take a fight that big without Freddie in my corner and he would have to be with Manny.'
What Britain's former Olympic silver medallist can foresee is a fight of his own with Mayweather to prove himself the next Pacquiao.
'Not right now,' he says. 'At the moment I would be just Floyd's opponent. First I will deal with Maidana - I believe I'll be the first to knock him out but I don't care if it goes the distance - and then unify the title by stopping the winner of Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander. Do that and then, towards the end of next year, I can go in against Mayweather in my prime, in a 50-50 fight.'
Khan is flattered by Roach's analysis but gives out a mock groan when he ponders the timescale of his isolation from normal life.
Six more weeks cut off from his mates in Bolton. Not even a mobile phone and do not even think about Facebook and Twitter. Roach's rules to prevent distractions (Fabio Capello please take note).
At least 18 months of dedication before he hits the summit. Five years until his provisional retirement date at the age of 28, also as a multiple champion, with Roach predicting: 'He is well capable of world titles in at least three divisions. He was big for a lightweight and is still growing.'
Khan confirms: 'I am much more comfortable since I came up to light-welter. I feel stronger not having to make lightweight. I am hitting harder and if anything I'm even quicker than before.'
He is holed up in a modest flat at the fabled West Hollywood intersection of Sunset and Vine. Refrigerator in the sitting room. A couple of small bedrooms. Family members within his team taking turns to keep him company.
King of the ring: Khan proved his quality by dismantling American Paulie Malignaggi in New York earlier this year
'Of course I get bored at times,' he says. 'But I am totally focused on my boxing. And I know that if I make the sacrifices now (e.g. all those pretty girls) I will be free to have all the fun in the world later, at still only 28.'
The uber chic W Hotel is almost next door but Khan says: 'For this game, it's better to live modestly. The training is really hard under Freddie. Twice a day. And that sparring is very intense, especially with Manny. So I need to chill out between sessions or rest watching a little TV.
'Although I am confident about winning my fights, it's not arrogance. It might not look it in the ring but I've always been humble. More so now because even though he is the greatest at the moment Manny is incredibly humble. He just gives himself to his country and his people and they love him in return. He is an example to me and I try to be an example to youngsters back home.
'There are drugs and guns and knife fights out there on our streets. I try to show them that if they work hard they can achieve a better life.'
Khan admits that speaking out against Islamic extremism as a British-born son of Pakistani parents demands courage: 'Of course there can be a lot of heat. But I love both countries and I believe this is the right thing to do.'
Khan's admiration for Pacquiao makes him even more delighted by that watershed sparring session. But what about that suspect chin? And that first-round KO by the big-hitting Breidis Prescott which inflicted his one defeat.
National hero: Both Britain and Pakistan should be proud of Khan's accomplishments
'I'm actually glad that happened,' says Khan. 'It taught me a lesson. If Prescott hadn't knocked me out I might have ended up kidding myself I was already the business. Instead, I've worked like mad to keep improving. To make sure nothing like that happens again.'
Roach adds: 'It wasn't so much that his chin is suspect but that his balance wasn't right for absorbing punches and he was so impatient to land the knock-out that he left himself open. Now he is much lighter on his feet and he lets his speed and his skill set him for the KO without walking on to big punches.'
Work is over for the day. Pacquiao, as usual, goes across the courtyard to Nat's, the Thai diner where he plays host to 20 or 30 of his fellow countrymen, often picking up a $7,000 bill at one sitting.
Khan heads back to the apartment. If he is not too tired he may take in a movie or go to a local restaurant for supper.
'The regime is tough but there are consolations,' he says. 'In England, anywhere outside Bolton, where they see me as local lad, I can't go to the movies or a cafe without being mobbed. Here, I don't get recognised as much yet.
'Yes, I miss my mates and all my folks. I miss not keeping up to the minute on my phone with everything that's going on at Bolton Wanderers. But it will be worth it if I can make my countries proud.'
As he strives to fulfil the glittering prophecy, Britain and Pakistan should be proud of Amir Khan.
It requires sacrifices - 'Do you think it's easy for a 23-year-old to ignore all the beautiful young women who come on to you when you start getting famous?' - but Amir Khan is now the heir apparent to Manny Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
The succession has been proclaimed here by Freddie Roach, master trainer of the PacMan and also Svengali to the lad from Bolton who combines being a world champion with setting an heroic example for Anglo-Muslim relations.
The two fastest guns in the ring and the trainer of both the year and the decade have set up their sweatshop in Hollywood en route from the Philippines to the fights which will further define their mastery.
Roach's legendary Wild Card Gym is where Pacquiao is girding himself to fight the heftier Antonio Margarito for his mind-boggling eighth world title in different divisions and where Khan is bracing himself to defend his light-welterweight crown against Argentine Marcos Maidana.After driving his global superstar and his English protege through their paces, Roach explains his anointing of Khan as the king-in- waiting. It is the final sparring session before they flew out of Pacquiao's typhoon-ravaged homeland which has convinced him: 'This is the first time Amir has got the better of Manny. It's always explosive when they spar. Lightning fast and bursting with pride. Like a cockfight.
'Manny is still ahead but he knows that Amir has come out on top at least once. Manny is still super quick and speed kills. But if anything Amir is just a tiny fraction faster now and his punching is getting more powerful by the day. Manny's punching is more dense but the gap between them is narrowing.
Need for speed: Khan is gathering pace in the gym and trainer Roach believes he is not far off from matching Pacquiao
Need for speed: Khan is gathering pace in the gym and trainer Roach believes he is not far off from matching Pacquiao
'Floyd Mayweather? No. Amir Khan is the only fighter out there who is close to catching Manny.'
How soon? Roach ponders speculation that the PacMan might hang up the gloves to concentrate on his political career as a Philippines congressman and says: 'I think Manny will give us two or three more fights. And that fits in with Amir reaching his peak in about 18 months.'
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao Amir Khan
Pac Man.............Nickname........King Khan
Dec 17, 1978..Date of birth..Dec 8, 1986
Kibawe..........Place of birth..........Bolton
5ft 6½in................ Height................ 5ft 10in
10st 4lb.................Weight...............9st 10lb
67in....................... Reach......................71in
W51 D2 L3............Record.......W23 D0 L1
67.9%..................... KO %..................70.8%
Explosive.............. Style.............Explosive
Pacquiao listens and is then noncommittal about his future beyond Margarito and the light-middleweight belt he intends winning in the Dallas Cowboys' stadium a fortnight tomorrow. Nor does he confirm or deny whether he may run for president once he does retire.
But in common with everyone here he is confident that Khan's speed and everything he is learning from their mutual work-outs will neutralise Maidana's knockout power and see him safely to victory in Las Vegas on December 11.
Frustratingly for those of us who look on from the safe side of the ropes, there is even less chance of Khan fighting Pacquiao for real than of the PacMan finally getting it on with Money Mayweather in that long-awaited but forever delayed $200million showdown.
'It won't happen with me and Manny,' says Khan.
'Not just because we're friends but because I could not take a fight that big without Freddie in my corner and he would have to be with Manny.'
What Britain's former Olympic silver medallist can foresee is a fight of his own with Mayweather to prove himself the next Pacquiao.
'Not right now,' he says. 'At the moment I would be just Floyd's opponent. First I will deal with Maidana - I believe I'll be the first to knock him out but I don't care if it goes the distance - and then unify the title by stopping the winner of Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander. Do that and then, towards the end of next year, I can go in against Mayweather in my prime, in a 50-50 fight.'
Khan is flattered by Roach's analysis but gives out a mock groan when he ponders the timescale of his isolation from normal life.
Six more weeks cut off from his mates in Bolton. Not even a mobile phone and do not even think about Facebook and Twitter. Roach's rules to prevent distractions (Fabio Capello please take note).
At least 18 months of dedication before he hits the summit. Five years until his provisional retirement date at the age of 28, also as a multiple champion, with Roach predicting: 'He is well capable of world titles in at least three divisions. He was big for a lightweight and is still growing.'
Khan confirms: 'I am much more comfortable since I came up to light-welter. I feel stronger not having to make lightweight. I am hitting harder and if anything I'm even quicker than before.'
He is holed up in a modest flat at the fabled West Hollywood intersection of Sunset and Vine. Refrigerator in the sitting room. A couple of small bedrooms. Family members within his team taking turns to keep him company.
King of the ring: Khan proved his quality by dismantling American Paulie Malignaggi in New York earlier this year
'Of course I get bored at times,' he says. 'But I am totally focused on my boxing. And I know that if I make the sacrifices now (e.g. all those pretty girls) I will be free to have all the fun in the world later, at still only 28.'
The uber chic W Hotel is almost next door but Khan says: 'For this game, it's better to live modestly. The training is really hard under Freddie. Twice a day. And that sparring is very intense, especially with Manny. So I need to chill out between sessions or rest watching a little TV.
'Although I am confident about winning my fights, it's not arrogance. It might not look it in the ring but I've always been humble. More so now because even though he is the greatest at the moment Manny is incredibly humble. He just gives himself to his country and his people and they love him in return. He is an example to me and I try to be an example to youngsters back home.
'There are drugs and guns and knife fights out there on our streets. I try to show them that if they work hard they can achieve a better life.'
Khan admits that speaking out against Islamic extremism as a British-born son of Pakistani parents demands courage: 'Of course there can be a lot of heat. But I love both countries and I believe this is the right thing to do.'
Khan's admiration for Pacquiao makes him even more delighted by that watershed sparring session. But what about that suspect chin? And that first-round KO by the big-hitting Breidis Prescott which inflicted his one defeat.
National hero: Both Britain and Pakistan should be proud of Khan's accomplishments
'I'm actually glad that happened,' says Khan. 'It taught me a lesson. If Prescott hadn't knocked me out I might have ended up kidding myself I was already the business. Instead, I've worked like mad to keep improving. To make sure nothing like that happens again.'
Roach adds: 'It wasn't so much that his chin is suspect but that his balance wasn't right for absorbing punches and he was so impatient to land the knock-out that he left himself open. Now he is much lighter on his feet and he lets his speed and his skill set him for the KO without walking on to big punches.'
Work is over for the day. Pacquiao, as usual, goes across the courtyard to Nat's, the Thai diner where he plays host to 20 or 30 of his fellow countrymen, often picking up a $7,000 bill at one sitting.
Khan heads back to the apartment. If he is not too tired he may take in a movie or go to a local restaurant for supper.
'The regime is tough but there are consolations,' he says. 'In England, anywhere outside Bolton, where they see me as local lad, I can't go to the movies or a cafe without being mobbed. Here, I don't get recognised as much yet.
'Yes, I miss my mates and all my folks. I miss not keeping up to the minute on my phone with everything that's going on at Bolton Wanderers. But it will be worth it if I can make my countries proud.'
As he strives to fulfil the glittering prophecy, Britain and Pakistan should be proud of Amir Khan.
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