Amir Khan  RSS feed | About

Amir Khan appears to have his pick of America's big-name boxing trainers after dispensing with the services of Oliver Harrison, who has guided him through his 17-fight unbeaten professional career.

The 21-year-old Olympic silver medallist will be trained by Dean Powell, promoter Frank Warren's matchmaker, for his next fight at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on Saturday, June 21.

He will then set his sights on the States for a replacement for Harrison, dismissed for what Khan's father Shah described as "a breakdown in communications."

Amir worked in the gym with Roger Mayweather, trainer and uncle of Ricky Hatton's conqueror Floyd Mayweather Jnr, when he attended Joe Calzaghe's victory over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas last month.

"I was on the pads with Roger for at least an hour, doing different things and working on different techniques," said Khan.

"He said it takes a lot of people a couple of months to get used to working with him but it took me about half an hour to settle and a couple of days to get it right.

"Floyd was watching me. He said: You've got the speed and the power,' and he wanted me to work on defensive things. I learned something new and I'm going to go back."

He also has an open invitation to return to Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood after working there earlier in his career.

But Khan hinted that Powell, who has trained world champions including Lloyd Honeyghan and Duke McKenzie and worked in the corner with the likes of Joe Calzaghe and Nigel Benn, could continue to be involved.

"If it works well we could continue it," he said.

Business manager Asif Valli explained it had always been part of the plan for Khan to work with a top American trainer as he moves up to the next level but that Harrison would have remained involved. "Oliver was aware of that but he was always going to be in the corner and be involved in some way working with Amir," he said.

"Oliver has taken Amir Khan to the level he is today and has been brilliant but unfortunately it was a communications thing."

Khan's father Shah revealed a problem arose before Amir's last fight, when he became the first fighter to stop Dane Martin Kristjansen - in the seventh round at London's 02 Arena on April 5 - in his WBO world title eliminator.

"Two weeks prior to the fight a situation arose and I rang Oliver and texted him but he never replied," he said.

"It could have been sorted out but Oliver didn't return my calls and didn't show up when we arranged a meeting through his friend Steve Wood (the Manchester boxing promoter). From that day I never spoke to him again."

Amir Khan revealed he conducted his final workout, the night before the Kristjansen fight, on his own.

"You could see there was tension but I was always focused on the fight," he said.

"Oliver's a great coach. He took me from fighting as an amateur to a good professional and I owe him a lot. We were always cool together."

Powell will move to Bolton on Sunday to train Khan for his June 21 fight, against an opponent to be named next week, in the Bolton star's recently-opened hometown gymnasium.

He insisted: "There's no pressure whatsoever. I'm looking after things for six or seven weeks, continuing the good work that's been done and maintaining stability.

"I've worked all over the world and they have an excellent gym there."

The Birmingham fight is almost certain to be Khan's last on ITV. "It looks like it. We're not even going there with that one," said Warren, who revealed no talks have taken place with a broadcaster regarding a new deal.

Warren is happy for Khan to gain more experience while he waits for his WBO world title shot against the winner of champion Nate Campbell and interim title holder Joel Casamayor.

"The WBO want Campbell and Casamayor to fight so in the meantime Amir will keep fighting and keep learning," he said.

"Hopefully by the time they have sorted themselves out Amir will be in a position to challenge for the title.

"If it's Campbell, he's promoted by Don King so it will come down to a purse bid and hopefully I'll deliver it over here."

8:53am Friday 2nd May 2008

Print   Email this   Comment