Malaki ang tiwala ni Golden Boy Promotions big boss Oscar de la Hoya sa alaga niyang boksingero na si dating world champion Amir Khan ng Great Britain kaya pipilitin niyang isabak ito kay WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao ng Pilipinas o sa Amerikanong si WBC at WBA 147lbs titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Sa panayam ni boxing writer Gareth Davies ng Telegraph.co.uk, iginiit ni De La Hoya na maraming pinagdaanang elimination bouts si Khan kaya may karapatan itong hamunin ang mga kampeon sa welterweight division.
“I’m pushing for a Pacquiao fight,” sabi ni De La Hoya na tiwalang maidedepensa ni Khan ang WBC Silver welterweight title nito sa Linggo laban sa Amerikanong si Devon Alexander sa Las Vegas, Nevada. “And I’m also pushing for a Mayweather fight.”
Ayon kay De La Hoya, isang mabuting halimbawa si Khan ng boksingero kung bakit nanatili ang welterweight bilang “glamour division” ng professional boxing.
Archdiocese of Manila, hindi mag-eendorso ng kandidato sa eleksyon
“He is a devastating puncher, has tremendous speed and he knows how to use it. He pleases the fans. He’s exciting. People want to watch him fight,” pagyayabang ni De La Hoya sa dating ka-stable at sparring partner ni Pacquiao.
“Amir Khan is just beginning, he has a lot of fight left in him. He’s still learning and he’s still growing; he’s getting stronger and he’s getting faster. He’s more motivated than ever,” giit ni De La Hoya na piangretiro ni Pacquiao sa boksing. “If he keeps winning, if he keeps on getting into these big fights that are promised, I really do feel that Amir Khan can be one of the top fighters of all time. But first things first: Devon Alexander is a tough, tough opponent.”
Laging ang GBP ang nagpo-promote ng laban ni Mayweather pero hindi natutuloy ang pagsagupa nito kay Khan.
“We’re always happy to be working with and promoting Mayweather. We’ve done it for the last 10 fights,” ani De La Hoya, “But, look, Amir Khan has been having eliminator after eliminator. The time for him is now. He deserves to be fighting Floyd Mayweather. He deserves to be fighting Manny Pacquiao.”
“It really rubs me the wrong way that Amir has been promised fighting the likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao and it hasn’t happened yet. He is at the perfect moment of his career,” dagdag ni De La Hoya.
“And one thing is for sure: 2015 is going to be his year. He is a force to be reckoned with, a threat to everyone in the welterweight division. I’ve always said if you put him up to the test, if you put him up against a Floyd Mayweather, a Manny Pacquiao, don’t be surprised if he wins.”
