Commonwealth Lightweight Title - Amir Khan vs Scott Lawton today

[faizpak]

Khan, who defends his Commonwealth lightweight title against Stoke's Scott Lawton on Saturday, said: "Look at how far I've progressed in my 13 fights.

Warren is keen to apply the brakes to Khan's march towards a crack at the world title - especially since the 20-year-old was floored by Willie Limond in his last contest.

"There is no doubt that Amir needs more experience," said Warren.

"Some people have said we should be moving him more quickly but we are still moving him quicker than most fighters. Nigel Benn was 24 when he won the Commonwealth title."

Khan believes he was taught a valuable lesson against Limond, who he eventually stopped.

The Bolton fighter was badly shaken before recovering in spectacular fashion.

"It's given me a wake-up call," Khan told BBC Radio 5live.

"There were things I did like staying up late, doing a lot of walking - things that can affect you.

"I was seeing a lot of my friends, spending time with them and talking about the fight.

"I think the occasion got to me as well. But this time I'm just going to go in there and do my job. This time I've been more professional."

Warren added: "The Limond fight was probably a blessing in disguise and I think it will make him a better all-round fighter.

"It is about being able to absorb what your trainer tells you and continuing the learning curve

The big fight live : Khan vs Lawton Sat 6th October, 10pm (uk) ITV1

Live internet : www.frankwarren.tv

[Oxy]

Quite a lot being made in the UK media about Amir fasting during Ramadhan and how it may affect him in the ring.

[harrybeg]

Surley it will , but we'll see how he'll progress

It'll be in ITV 1 I think at 10 pm (uk).

[faizpak]

NOTTINGHAM: Amir Khan is so determined to show he has learnt from being knocked down in his last fight that he has opted not to observe Ramadan fasting in the build-up to his first Commonwealth lightweight title defence here on Saturday. The undefeated 20-year-old faces fellow Englishman Scott Lawton in his 14th professional fight still smarting over being sent to the canvas by Scotland’s Willie Limond three months ago.

Khan, who won silver at the 2004 Olympic Games, got off the floor to stop Lawton at the end of seven rounds to lift the Commonwealth belt. But the scare led him to initiate a review of his preparations for fights and one of the results has been that he has not been fasting during daylight hours this week, as he normally would throughout the Muslim holy month. “I have cut back on a lot of stuff,” Khan told AFP. “I’ve been in the gym more this time. After a fight when I have got a chance I will do the commercial stuff, but it has not got in the way this time. For my last fight I was up later than I should have been the night before and I didn’t sleep on the afternoon of the fight. I’m not going to make the same mistake this time and am going to make sure I rest on the day and have an early night before. I had a few problems in the fight and my timing wasn’t right and it gave me a wake up call. It made me realise that you cannot go into a fight thinking that you are going to knock somebody out. My last fight was a massive occasion for me and I let the excitement get to me. It was my first major title fight and I let it get to me.”

On the decision not to fast, Khan explained: “It would be hard for me to do the fasting for Ramadan. From 5am to 7pm you are fasting and it’s hard to train during that period and keep your metabolism right so I can make the weight. The fight has come in the middle of Ramadan but hopefully next year I will not have to fight at this time of year. My faith is everything to me and it has got me to where I am today, but it was just too hard to do the fasting this time. I was looking forward to Ramadan but I’ve not been able to fast at all during the week of the fight.” Khan is regarded as the best young prospect in British boxing but Lawton was encouraged by what he saw in his last fight. “Amir is a good fighter but he has got big gaps which I can exploit,” Lawton said. “I’m very confident. Amir may have worked on things in the gym but when the fight is getting hard for him he will revert to his old self and drop his hands. If he puts his chin out I will definitely crack it and I don’t think he’s a devastating puncher.”

[The Godfather]

should be a good fight but Khan should win

[harrybeg]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7028453.stm

In his first defence, the 20-year-old's fast hands proved too much for Lawton.

Having dominated the first three rounds Khan rocked Lawton with a crushing left hook and a flurry of punches left referee Victor Loughran with no option.

"I'm picking shots and pacing myself," he said. "I proved my critics wrong and I'm going in the right direction."

Lawton, who entered the fray with the tune of the Tom Jones favourite Delilah blasting across the arena, proudly wore a Stoke City FC shirt during the introductions.

But the only problem for Khan was when his corner failed to put in his gumshield at the start.

Khan's next fight will be on his 21st birthday on 8 December at the Bolton arena, with his opponent to be announced on Thursday.

[The Godfather]

pretty easy match for him properly beated him up keep it up amir

[12thMan]

Hope to see him fighting in USA soon to see how he is. maybe undercard to a Hatton or Laghazi (spelling) fight