Khan "I feel so much stronger/better without Ariza's supplements"

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by cuco10701, Mar 13, 2011.


  1. cuco10701

    cuco10701 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,350
    1
    Jun 7, 2010
    Amir Khan, speaking for the first time about his split with controversial conditioner Alex Ariza, says he feels "so much stronger" eating uncomplicated organic food after junking his pre-fight diet of 7,000-plus calories a day and several supplements. For a kid from Bolton who used to boast he could fight and train on kebabs and pop ending up eating sprouts and lentils is some journey.

    Khan is training in the Philippines for the fourth defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Irishman Paul McCloskey in Manchester on 16 April – and a possible £5m unification fight against the American WBO and WBC 10-stone champion Tim Bradley, already inked in for 23 July, probably in Las Vegas.

    When Khan got rid of the pills and power shakes, he showed Ariza the door, too. In came Michael Vale, a Los Angeles strength coach and nutritionist recommended by Khan's trainer, Freddie Roach, and the fighter clearly feels better for the change.

    He insists he did not sack Ariza because of unfounded rumours that he used controversial and possibly illegal supplements in helping Manny Pacquiao and, to a lesser extent himself, bulk up with muscle and bone density to rise through the weights. "It was nothing big," Khan says. "At the end of the day, we just grew apart. Also, he was with Manny at the same time, and I needed a full-time conditioner."

    Ariza still looks after Pacquiao, Khan's friend and training partner, and will be in camp with both of them in the Philippines as they prepare for their world title fights. Pacquiao is getting ready for Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on 7 May.

    The atmosphere when they gather in Baguio City, three hours' drive from Manila, on Sunday may not be that of a tea party. Although Khan is happy to move on, the outspoken Ariza claims he is still owed money after Khan's last fight, against the Argentinian Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in December.

    He accused Khan's father, Shah, of interfering in the boxer's affairs and did little for the conciliation process when he observed, "I understand Amir is his meal ticket and he does not want to go back to driving cabs for a living".

    Khan says: "I spoke to Freddie about it, how I wasn't happy with it, and he recommended Michael. I'm getting on well with him, he's a really good strength conditioner. He encourages me to understand my body and my health more. I now understand what I'm eating and why I'm eating it.

    "With Alex, I would just do what he said. Alex is very professional, too, but we had just gone so far. He's still here with Manny, so that's fine.

    "Organic food is the best for you, and I'm eating the best, a lot of fresh vegetables. I also keep myself hydrated. It's all made a big difference to my performance in the gym.

    "When I had to do all those calories, I had to use up all my energy [to burn them off]. Now I feel sharp and strong, so much stronger. When I'm not training I can eat what I want, but getting ready for a fight over 10 weeks, this is the best for me. I am in the best shape ever and I don't take any short cuts.

    "I took a couple of days to acclimatise when we got to Manila [on Wednesday], working on the pads with Freddie, doing light training. I don't normally suffer from jet lag but 17 hours in a plane will affect anyone. I'm fine now and the sparring is going well.

    "Manny and the rest of us will drive up together on Sunday to his training camp. It's normally a four-hour journey but, with Manny, he's got a police escort, so we do it in around three hours. The roads are good, nothing like I imagined before I came here. I thought it might be a shocking place, but it's great. The people are so nice, as well."


    For all the distractions, Khan knows he must now concentrate on a hard-hitting southpaw from Derry. And, if needed any motivation beyond holding on to his title, he may like to know that, for the first time in his career, McCloskey has employed a strength and conditioning coach, Oliver Cummings.

    "McCloskey is a good fighter," Khan says, "and, for him, this is the biggest opportunity he's every going to get. That's why I'm training so hard. I cannot afford to lose it. There is so much to look forward to."
     
  2. PH|LLA

    PH|LLA VIP Member

    79,438
    2,647
    Feb 1, 2007
    hmmm... I still think Ariza is very good at what he does. The proof is in the pudding. Pacquiao's performances against Oscar, Hatton, and Cotto. Khan's ability to survive the Maidana onslaught.
     
  3. caneman

    caneman 100% AllNatural Xylocaine Full Member

    16,472
    1
    Aug 5, 2009
    Imagine Pac going the Khan route of eating organic food and feeling better/stronger.

    Pac a better/stronger boxer. Scary.
     
  4. Atlanta

    Atlanta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    18,688
    6
    Dec 26, 2009
    Didn't he say the exact same thing when he joined Roach/Ariza?
     
  5. homebrand

    homebrand Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,674
    3
    Jan 1, 2009
    khan is a stupid. he was given everything he ever wanted but he chose to reject it. it will be no surprise when he loses.
     
  6. MexicanJew

    MexicanJew Jajajajajaja Full Member

    7,315
    3
    May 19, 2008
    The headline is misleading.

    Ariza favors a nutritional and conditioning program that is heavy on supplementation and high in calories

    Khan prefers to eat real food and not supplement

    Both can be effective, Ariza's protocol works well for a fighter needing to gain weight or an athlete that doesnt care for having to eat whole food.
     
  7. bigboxingfan

    bigboxingfan Hypejob Full Member

    1,868
    1
    May 12, 2010
    Well lets wait and see it in the ring
     
  8. pasky2000

    pasky2000 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,119
    0
    Nov 4, 2007
    Eating organic is a no brainer. I can't imagine any serious trainer well educated in the matter, recommending his fighters anything else to eat, besides the supplements.
     
  9. MexicanJew

    MexicanJew Jajajajajaja Full Member

    7,315
    3
    May 19, 2008
    Ariza uses a lot of protein amino acid drinks with Pacquiao to boost the calories in his diet

    Some guys cant handle much solid food and dont like to eat. For someone that needs to maintain weight, it can be difficult for them to eat enough whole food. In that case adding in supplements can be very beneficial
     
  10. FORMIDABLE

    FORMIDABLE Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,664
    6
    Jan 12, 2010
    he's just saying that to protect his idiot father. ariza is king **** when it comes to conditioning. proof is in what he's done for Pac and Khan himself. hope khan doesn't end up regretting it


    This is what Ariza said went down:

    Pressed for his opinion on what caused the rift between him and Team Khan, Ariza was refreshingly open and honest. “Freddie and I are two separate entities, I am an independent contractor, and I’m hired usually generally by the fighter. Two months prior to the start of camp I told Amir Khan (24-1-0, 17 KOs) I am an independent contractor, if you still want me to be your conditioning coach this is what it’s going to be and he agreed, he said absolutely, I feel better knowing that you’re working for me because then I know you’ll give me more individual time.”

    Ariza continued to break down the events that lead to the split, including an allegation of theft orchestrated by Amir Khan himself. “We spoke about this while we were in the Philippines and I forwarded the contract to his uncle, of course nothing was done, they procrastinated. Next thing you know were at the week of the fight and I had no paperwork signed so I had Amir sign it there, I told him that his people dropped the ball on it. The signed paperwork was then stolen out of my room, I just recently found out that it was Amir who orchestrated them stealing it, and he sent his friend and assistant to take the contract out of my room.”

    Ariza offered up a valid reason as to why Khan would want to risk so much by breaking into his room and stealing back the freshly signed contract, “The problem is that he was so scared that he was going to get in trouble by his father, maybe that’s what made him do it, I can only speculate. I told him you know how your people are about disclosing amounts and paying and he gave me his word, he told me if I have to, I will open my own account and I will have money funneled into it and pay you. I was shocked and I asked him do you hear what you are saying? Now do you wonder why I have to get this signed? Maybe the fear of the repercussions of signing something without their consent freaked him out.”
     
  11. MexicanJew

    MexicanJew Jajajajajaja Full Member

    7,315
    3
    May 19, 2008
    Huh, interesting story on Ariza's part.
     
  12. pasky2000

    pasky2000 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,119
    0
    Nov 4, 2007
    Also, most guys need to lose weight, not maintain it like Pacquiao. In order to lose the weight, the metabolism has to be maintained high enough. Obviously the physical training in itself does play the biggest part in keeping that metabolism high enough but foods chosen can also assist that process.

    Organic foods help relieve the system from unnecessary release accumulated toxins in the organism. I would also recommend bigger fighters to eat spicy meals on a regular basis.
     
  13. naldo marshal

    naldo marshal heavyweight champ Full Member

    5,823
    0
    Oct 4, 2010
    this man seems more proud now!
     
  14. naldo marshal

    naldo marshal heavyweight champ Full Member

    5,823
    0
    Oct 4, 2010
    may his pride will not destruct him!
     
  15. Lazarus

    Lazarus Realist Full Member

    29,937
    1
    Jan 1, 2010
    I don't think he's the only stupid one..