Reported By:
| Edited By: Vishal Gajaria |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 19, 2017, 04:20 AM IST
It's a lovely place. Honestly, the people here are amazing. Even while walking at the airport, I have been stopped a couple of times, with people saying 'hi, you're a boxer... very nice to meet you'. The people are very loving, very nice and they respect me quite a lot which I like. I feel very comfortable coming to this country, and (I) feel very safe. I know a lot of people say you're a Pakistani, but look, I get treated very fairly here and the people here like me so I'm cool with that (coming to India). And I like coming here back.
Boxing is something that I have always been confident in. In the UK, I have opened boxing academies, which are doing really well. So, this is something I want to expand on my own, expand on my career, and expand on doing more things instead of (only) me being in the boxing ring. Helping the other young people, helping the youth of India, getting them involved in leagues and big competitions. We know we have the talent. We know that we have young boxers who are doing really well. But, we don't know where to go, which way to take (it forward). We're giving them the opportunity to take this route — come to Super Boxing League. We want the best fighters on the grass roots. This (league) is going to give a big name to India because when they win championships and big competitions (in future), they can always say we started because of the Super Boxing League basically. Not only have them fight, we want to inspire boxing as it is one of the top sports in the world.
Not one-to-one. Look, if me and Vijender were ever to fight, it will definitely have to be in my league, because obviously we worked so hard to make this league. And we know the fight between me and Vijender will be huge. Why huge, because obviously he's an Indian boxer, I'm a Pakistani boxer. We're always going to have that rivalry here. And it's all good rivalry because it's sports at the end of the day. Let's just take the war into the ring. It's a team concept, the way we are going with the Super Boxing League. We will take this (forward) and we will have just one fight separately, away from the league.
Look, today I weighed in at 72 (kilograms). My natural weight is 69 or something. But, I'm a fighter... I don't care. I would go open and fight him. I'll go up to 72 and fight him. Because that way then, if I beat him at 72, then they have no excuses. We don't know if the fight is going to happen. At the end of the day, Vijender is a great champion. He's still fighting, he's doing well. He's younger than me. I wish him all the best. If it (fight with Vijender) happens one day, it will be huge. I support him no matter what.
It's not easy. Boxing is one of the hardest sports in the world. You are putting your life on the line basically and you're fighting guys from all the over the world. And one thing, Vijender has still been on the domestic level. He has not really fought anyone in the top-10 in the world. So, it's going to get harder for him. It's going to be very difficult. It's not going to be easy. Boxing is very tough.
All my friends are saying that I'm fighting the top-five guys in the world now. That's because I have reached that position (from where) I can't go back. I can only go forward. I only have to fight the top guys in the world. Every fight is very hard. That's why I fight only two times in the year. Because I want to give my body some break as well. But Vijender, he is still young. He can fight more often. He can maybe fight less dangerous opponents.
Overall, he is a very good boxer. I support him and I think he will go a long, long way. I'm here to advise him because I have gone through all this myself — winning world titles, losing fights and all. So, I can advise him and also help him, and be like a mentor to him because this is what I want to do. I will give myself another three years in the game. I want to make sure that I can help the next generation. By having the Super Boxing League, this will help the next generation to get involved in boxing and promote boxing (and) people will see (the league) on their television at home. It's been a long time since people saw good quality (boxing) and that's what we want to bring to the table and when the general India public see boxing, they will start respecting it more. Because boxing is not for those who are strong on the street; you need a lot of technique, you need brains. This is the difference because a lot of people have big muscles, but I think they are the worst fighters in the world.
I'm making a comeback in November. I was going to fight at the end of April (against Manny Pacquiao). I'm in a position where I can pick faces I want. I have a great adviser in Al Haymon, who is one of the most powerfulliest guys in boxing (sic). So, I'm just focussed on getting back in the ring again and making sure I do everything right. Like I said, I want to give myself only couple of years (or) three years in boxing. I want to maximise everything I do now. I'm 30 years old.
No opponents are finalised as yet because finalising an opponent takes a long time. Look, one thing about me is I have never turned down a fight with anyone. Even the Manny Pacquiao fight, he was the one to turn down, not me. There few big names in the welterweight division, so I think we should announce something within a month.
I think Canelo will win that fight. A lot of people underestimate Canelo. I underestimated him as well. I went up to his weight category (72 kilograms) to fight him. A lot of people said that I was too brave to go up to his weight category. Walking into the ring, I was 157 pounds, he walked in at 190 almost. It does make a big difference. When I say it to my friends that Canelo will win, they are like 'oh, no way, it can't be true'. It is, because I have been in the ring with him and I know how good he is. He moves well and he is quite fast. He hits hard, very hard. So, you have to respect that. So, I think he is got that fight.
One thing about GGG: look, I'm a friend of GGG. I respect him. He is a great fighter. But, he is very stiff. He always gets hit. So, Canelo could be al ittle dangerous for him. Time will tell, but what I will say is that it's going to be a good fight. Boxing needs fights like these. It (bout) will go all the way. I think it will be a brutal fight. It will be a bloody fight... there will be a lot of blood involved in it. I think Canelo (will win) by 2-3 rounds.
Very good win for Joshua. I spoke to Joshua before the fight and he is always confident. Coming off the Olympics, winning the gold medal and all, a lot of people thought that it (fighting Klitschko) is going to be too early for Joshua. He only has 19 fights. But, it's all about timing in boxing. Joshua called Klitschko at the right time, when Klitschko is little bit over the hill... little bit old now. So, that day was the day was the new crown was passed on to the youth. And I think the matchmaker who made that fight was very smart because it was a very dangerous fight. When Joshua went down first, everyone though 'wow, it's over'. So all the people at the Wembley Stadium were at the edge of their seats. But, he (Joshua) pulled it off and showed what a champion he is: from being on the floor to coming back to win. So, I respect him for that.
Name: Amir Iqbal Khan
Nickname: King Khan
Birthplace: Lancashire, UK
Division: Welterweight
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 174 cm
Record: 31-4 (19 Kos)
