[Lazarus]

Hands down, probably the smartest interview I've just listened to that he's given. Speaks about his flaws and was a overall great interview. Below is only part of the interview. Can't post the rest but to listen to it instead, go to Check Hook Boxing.

Jenna Jay: Amir you have a new fight set up, can you tell the fans about it and what’s been going on with you since we last saw you in the ring?

Amir Khan: I’m fighting Carlos Molina on 15th Dec in LA arena. I’m looking forward to the fight, it’s been a tough, tough journey over the last 12 months that I’ve had. Initially having the loss against Peterson, I still believe that I won the fight, and I didn’t get it. I tried to get it again, but it didn’t happen because of the drug tests, after the whole training camp, 10 weeks, the fight was called off. I took maybe a week or two off and then jumped in with Danny Garcia. I hold my hands up, I got caught with a shot I shouldn’t have got caught with. After winning the first couple of rounds so easily, my mind went off the game plan. I got caught with a big shot, to be honest, even though I got up from the first knock down, I didn’t recover. I still believe I could have carried on after the 3rd knockdown but it wasn’t the case. I’ve got a lot of respect for Danny Garcia, he beat me. But I would love to have a rematch with him, and hopefully settle the score.

Jenna: What are your thoughts on your next opponent, Carlos Molina, as a fighter? Khan: He’s a tough fighter. He’s a lightweight moving up but I’ve had more lightweight fights than him anyway. Most of his fights have been just under or around the 140 mark. He’s undefeated so he has something to prove. I’m coming off a KO loss, whereas he’s undefeated and will be full of confidence. I’ve been KO’d before and I’ve come back, I’ve changed my trainer to Virgil Hunter so I’m no longer working with Freddy Roach. I know what I did wrong last time.

Jenna: You recently make a switch in trainers from Freddie Roach to Virgil Hunter, why did you feel you needed to make that change?

Khan: I think my style isn’t really being an aggressive fighter. My style is being the counter fighter, in-out, hit and move. Maybe it (the aggressive style) happened because I started to knock out opponents, started hurting my opponents, and I thought to myself – ‘Maybe I could hurt some of these guys instead of just boxing them’. I think I believed in my own power more than anything, and that was my downfall. I should go back to basics, do what I do best which is hit and move and don’t go looking for the knock outs.

Jenna: How hard was the decision to make that change in trainers?

Khan: It wasn’t too hard really, I need someone who is going to be with me 100%, people can say that because he has Andre Ward he’s not going to spend much time with me, but it’s not the case, Virgil has been spending day in and day out with me, telling me what to do right, and making me improve my mistakes. I need someone to advise me of that. I think I made the best move in leaving Freddy to work with Virgil, because Virgil has something that will take me to the next level. In just a few weeks I’m a changed fighter, I’m more focused, I’m thinking about what I’m doing, I take my time more. I see what I’m doing instead of just going in throwing shots. It’s about doing things right and doing things smart.

Jenna: Amir, one of the few criticisms you get is that you are a little to brave when you get hurt in the ring. Do you think so?

Khan: I think I have too big of a heart. I’m an exciting fighter, and when I get hurt I think I get into fight mode with my opponent. My style is ‘hit and move’ and if I am hurt, I need to think about that, and get back to basics instead of rushing in there and trying to knock my opponent out. That’s what we’re changing. If I get hit, I will regroup myself, and think about what attack I’m going to make next instead of just throwing anything. In previous fights, I’ve relied too much on my speed. Now I’m going to fight smart, and pick my shots at the right time. I need to change my style as we don’t want to be knocked out or hurt again. I’ve learnt the hard way. Danny Garcia has a big KO percentage, and hit me with a huge shot on the side of the neck. I think that would have hurt anyone, so people who say that I can’t take a shot – I think that Garcia would have knocked out anyone with that shot. I’ll come back stronger, wiser and eventually come back a better fighter for it.

Jenna: Your next fight is at 140lbs, why did you decide to stay at that weight? Before the Garcia fight you were talking about moving up?

Khan: The reason is because I think it takes a long time to move up to the next weight category. I’m thinking 6-9 months to move up, build up the muscle mass. I initially wanted to move up after the Garcia fight, but because I lost, I’m going back to basics, build up and have 1 or 2 more fights at this weight category and then move up.

Jenna: What have you been learning from Virgil Hunter?

Khan: Virgil Hunter is a great trainer, he’s a great guy. He’s not afraid to tell me that I’m making a mistake. He’s one of those guys who will say ‘you’re doing this wrong, do it right’ and he’ll be upset if I don’t do it right. He’s telling me straight. He’s not a nice guy about it, it’s the way you have to be taught. I like to be taught that way as well, he’s very strict – make them stick. I have to do it right, or I’m in trouble, and that’s in the ring as well as with Virgil Hunter. That what Virgil likes to bring to the table, he wants me to respect him and do things the right way. He only wants the best out of me. And looking at how he’s worked with other guys, like Andre Ward, I think he could take me to the next level. It takes two, I have to listen and learn, and Virgil is going to teach me.

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