Khan maximizes potential in ring by learning at Pacquiao’s knee, fist

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Imagine being a physicist and getting to work in the laboratory alongside Albert Einstein. Or being a budding rock star and jamming with Eric Clapton.

Amir Khan knows that feeling.

The WBA junior welterweight titleholder partially credits his rise to stardom in the past couple of years with his opportunity to train with pound-for-pound boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

“Without question,” said Khan, who defends his belt against Marcos Maidana tonight at Mandalay Bay Events Center. “It has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m so grateful to Manny for allowing me into his camp and to learn from him. He has made me a much better fighter.”

Khan and Pacquiao met in 2008 when Pacquiao was preparing to fight Oscar De La Hoya. They became instant friends, and Khan has been a regular in Pacquiao’s subsequent camps.

Khan (23-1, 17 knockouts) said being a sparring partner for Pacquiao forced him to be at his best or risk getting embarrassed — or, worse, hurt.

“(Pacquiao) wants to be pushed,” Khan said. “When we train together, it’s like a competition. We try to bring out the best in each other. That’s been so beneficial to me. He’s improved my work ethic, and when I’m not around Manny, I still train as if he were there.”

Freddie Roach, who trains both fighters, had Khan with Pacquiao during his entire camp leading up to Pacquiao’s demolition of Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium. Khan was with Pacquiao in the Philippines and traveled with him to Los Angeles and Texas. According to Roach, they sparred approximately 20 rounds together.

Once Pacquiao took care of Margarito, Roach gave Khan his full attention after they returned to Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif. For Khan, it also meant being away from his home in Bolton, England, for the last four months, but he never complained.

“I never felt slighted in the least,” Khan said. “I understood the priority was Manny, and I was still being trained by Freddie, so it all worked out well.”

Roach said Khan’s time with Pacquiao will add up to a big advantage over Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs).

“It’s done wonders for Amir’s confidence,” Roach said. “Mentally, he’s fearless. When you’re in the ring with the best fighter in the world and holding your own, you’re going to be confident.

“There were days where Amir kicked Manny’s ass. That was a good thing because it forced Manny to work harder.”

Khan said he thought he had the talent to be great, but it took working with Roach and Pacquiao to bring out the best in him.

“I now understand what it means to be professional, whether it’s in training or the night of the fight,” Khan said. “Everything I do now, the way I live my life, I try to do it the way a champion does.”

Khan is competing in a hot division that includes Victor Ortiz and Lamont Peterson, who are on tonight’s undercard in a scheduled 10-round bout. The junior welterweight class also includes Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, who are scheduled to square off Jan. 29 in Pontiac, Mich. A victory tonight would set up Khan to face the Bradley-Alexander winner in mid-2011.

“One thing I learned from being around Manny is to not look ahead and take each day as it comes,” said Khan, who is making his Las Vegas debut and fighting in the United States for only the second time in his career. “I want to fight the best. But I have to win this fight first.”

■ NOTES — Khan, who turned 24 on Thursday, made the 140-pound limit at Friday’s weigh-in. Maidana weighed 139. … The undercard begins at 2 p.m., and one of the highlights will be Las Vegas lightweight Sharif Bogere, who takes his 17-0 record (11 knockouts) into an eight-round fight against Chris Fernandez. … Just over 3,000 tickets had been sold as of Friday. … Because Khan and Maidana refused to wear PunchForce sensors inside the cuffs of their gloves, HBO will not debut the technology tonight as planned. PunchForce shows how hard a fighter is punching during each round.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.