Amir Khan will not be talking about Floyd Mayweather and, instead, concentrating on out-shining the world’s number 1 pound-for-pound boxer when they appear on the same show in Las Vegas next Saturday.
As he cranks up his preparations for facing former world champion Luis Collazo in his first step up to the welterweight division, Khan says: “If it happens for me against Floyd in the future it happens but it’s disrespectful for me to keep talking about him when he’s about to fight (Marcos) Maidana.
“If I get asked any more questions about him I’ll probably pass. My focus is on Collazo. I’ve found out that if you look too far into the future you can make a costly mistake. The best thing for me to do is put on a show, look sensational, excite the public. And that’s what you can expect from me.
“There is a circus around Floyd but that takes a bit of pressure off me. Usually you want to be top of the bill but this time I’m relaxed while he’s getting the attention and I can concentrate on what I have to do.”
Khan has been without a fight for nine month but he insists that instead of covering him in ring rust the delay has helped ready him for his first fight at 147 lbs. He is making his welterweight debut on the same bill as Mayweather and has said he plans to look sensational against Luis Collazo in Las Vegas on 3 May.
Khan believes his extended break from the ring has allowed trainer Virgil Hunter to improve him as a boxer.
He said: “You will see a different Amir Khan. You will see me much more comfortable at the weight. When I was at light-welter I was killing myself to make weight, it was like I was fighting myself as well as my opponents.
“They hit harder at 147lb but I will get that benefit as well because I won’t be weakening myself. I should have moved up a while ago.”
Collazo was narrowly outpointed by Britain’s Ricky Hatton in 2006 and the American southpaw sees Khan as a make-or-break fight.
“This fight is my whole career right in front of me,” said Collazo, 33. “If I beat Amir Khan I have a bigger future in boxing and if I don’t, I have to start from the bottom again.
“A win over Khan does put me in the Mayweather sweepstakes. But I am not looking beyond Amir Khan. He is my main focus.”
