AMIR KHAN fights in Britain for the first time in five years on Saturday and admits the emergence of homegrown boxers like Anthony Joshua has fuelled his comeback.
Khan faces Canadian Phil Lo Greco in Liverpool on Saturday 23 months after he was beaten by Saul โCaneloโ Alvarez in Las Vegas, and five years since he last fought on these shores against Julio Diaz in Sheffield.
Joshua had not even started his professional career then but the current world heavyweight championโs ascent, in bouts that have all taken place in Britain, has ensured the sportโs popularity has risen.
And Khan, who has buried the hatchet with Joshuaโs promoter Eddie Hearn to sign a three-fight deal with Matchroom, admits watching high-profile fights in Britain from ringside partially motivated him to return.
๏ธ “It’s been a long timeโฆ I can’t wait to get back in the ring” โ @amirkingkhan #KhanLoGreco #BackToBusiness pic.twitter.com/6TsYyvteeO
โ Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 19, 2018
โYou look at these great fighters like Joshua cleaning up, doing really well, knocking guys out, selling out stadiums and Iโm like, โWow, this is where I want to be againโ,โ the 31-year-old said.
โIโve done it in the past and I want to do it again. I know Iโve got a style where the crowd will come and watch me and want to see me.
โFighters like Joshua out there give you that inspiration to come out and do well and sell out stadiums again. Boxingโs on a high. What Eddieโs doing, this is what we needed.
โBritish boxing was really dying and Eddieโs brought it back alive again. I remember the days when I used to fight in America all the time because in Britain, boxing wasnโt as big as what we wanted it to be.
โIn America, I was fighting there because I wanted to make a big name for myself and globally become a star. Now fighters are coming from America to England because of what Eddieโs done. Itโs only making boxing a bigger, better sport.
โPeople respect it more. You walk down the streets and people are talking about boxing.โ
When it comes to Khan, the talk tends to revolve around the possibility of a grudge match with fellow Briton Kell Brook, another boxer that is promoted by Hearn.
@amirkingkhan is #BackToBusiness on Saturday #KhanLoGreco pic.twitter.com/HcXE0sggCZ
โ Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 19, 2018
Brook will be at the Echo Arena on Saturday to see Khanโs comeback up close and his opponent Lo Greco is convinced the 2004 Olympic silver medallistโs best days are behind.
โI was a fan, I think youโve done great,โ Lo Greco told Khan at the press conference.
โIโve studied your boxing. I honestly believe your best years are done, I think your best years were in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and itโs going to show on Saturday night.โ