Amir Khan has revealed training with Andre Ward has improved him as a fighter to the extent that he is targeting a rematch with Danny Garcia if he comes through Saturday’s fight with Carlos Molina unscathed.
Khan is in the process of rebuilding his career after Garcia knocked him out in the fourth round of their world title fight in July.
He responded to that loss – his second in succession after a controversial points defeat to America’s Lamont Peterson – by switching trainers from Freddie Roach to Virgil Hunter, who also trains Ward, and believes that move is about to pay off.
“Having the likes of Andre Ward to train alongside is great,” Khan said.
“He’s one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world and it inspires me to do well because I want to be in the same position as him one day.
“He holds world titles and can call himself a world champion and I want that again too. He’s certainly an inspiration in a camp like this.
“I’ve been watching Andre training and I even come into the gym on days off sometimes to see him spar. I just want to pick up a few things from him.
“He’s a very slick fighter. We have a very similar style because we have quick hands, quick feet and we’ve been working on the same strategies.
“Virgil will sit next to me and explain what Andre is doing, why he’s doing this, why he’s doing that.
“We’ve not sparred each other because he’s obviously a lot heavier than me but he has given me advice about staying relaxed, seeing things better.”
Since losing to both Peterson and Garcia, talk of Khan stepping up to welterweight to fight Floyd Mayweather has disappeared.
Concerns over his punch resistance are ongoing, including from dumped trainer Roach, but Khan does not share those concerns and believes the best way to end them are by avenging his loss to Garcia.
“I need to win this fight to get back on the scene again,” he said. “It can put me back on a winning streak and maybe a rematch against Garcia. Hopefully we can get that rematch and take it from there.
“I’d love the rematch against Garcia because I know deep down “I’m a better fighter than him. I made a mistake in that fight and I paid for that mistake.
“But I know I can beat him.
“I’m a better fighter and I’ll knock Danny Garcia out.”
