AMIR KHAN believes his trainer Virgil Hunter holds the key to his hopes of securing victory in what could prove his defining fight against Terence Crawford.
The 32-year-old challenges WBO welterweight champion Crawford at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
American Crawford is at the peak of his powers, to the extent that alongside Vasyl Lomachenko he is considered one of the two finest fighters in the world.
Hunter oversaw Khanโs most convincing, disciplined performances when, after successive defeats, the Brit joined him and excelled in overcoming Luis Collazo, Chris Algieri and Devon Alexander.
But Hunterโs ill health meant Khan was then being trained by Joe Goosen until the Crawford fight was signed.
Khanโs victories over Phil Lo Greco and Samuel Vargas under Goosen heavily featured the vulnerabilities that contributed to his four defeats, with the unremarkable Vargas almost ending his career, but with the respected Hunter back in his corner he is confident the discipline he requires will return.
โLook at my last performances,โ he told Press Association Sport.
โMy last maybe wasnโt the best, a change of trainer does that. Thatโs no disrespect to Joe Goosen whoโs an amazing coach, but sometimes when you change trainer and your style a little itโs too soon to have a good performance.
โWith Virgil, weโve been together for over six years so he brings out the best in me.
โI trust in him and I respect him. The skills come from that respect, and listening to him and not making mistakes.
โItโs great to be back in camp with Virgil. We work very hard, heโs back healthy and Iโm back doing what I love doing. Training hard, being pushed. Heโs arranged everything to take that pressure off me, the sparring, everything.
โItโs being smart, boxing (Crawford). Iโm the better boxer. Itโs being smart, boxing, being careful and not making mistakes and sticking to the game-plan throughout the fight.
โIโve got the speed, power and size over him, and the experience as well, fighting the better class of opponents. Iโve got everything on my side going into this fight, heโs just got the title.โ
Crawfordโs trainer Brian McIntyre insisted this week that not even Hunter believes Khan is capable of victory.
Hunter had required persuading that Khan should previously accept the dangerous fight he lost to Saul โCaneloโ Alvarez, yet with Crawford was happy at the level of risk.
โItโll be a big help to have Virgil in the corner, especially in the difficult moments that might happen in the fight,โ Khan said.
โI trust that he can maybe help me not have those difficult moments, and what I should change, he knows me better than any other trainer.
โHeโs been a lot more confident (than he was against Alvarez), a lot more confident. Heโs been a lot calmer, that Iโm not giving that weight away, and that Iโm ready.โ
Amir Khan fights Terence Crawford live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday April 20. For more informationย www.bt.com/btsportboxoffice.