Khan: I'll return stronger from title decision injustice

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Khan: I'll return stronger from title decision injustice

Amir Khan insists he will treat his controversial, split-decision defeat against Lamont Peterson as "a learning curve" as he plots his revenge.

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By FRANK GLOVER

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ET

Khan produced a sub-standard performance in Washington as he lost the WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles to local man Peterson at the weekend.

Yet, attention has instead focused on a number of contentious issues such as referee Joseph Cooper's deduction of two points from the Briton, and also question marks over the scoring of the fight.

Khan's team have submitted complaints to the relevant authorities, but such action is likely to prove immaterial, with a March 31 rematch in Las Vegas thought to be in the pipeline.

Khan has already bounced back from defeat in his career when Breidis Prescott blew him away in less than a minute three years ago. And he has vowed to do the same having suffered his second professional loss.

"This is all a learning curve," said the Englishman. "That's just the character I am. I'll come back stronger. Even Lamont was very shocked that he got the decision. I knew after the 12th round we had won the fight.

"But no excuses. People who were watching and who know what the fight was all about will know that I'll come back stronger. That's why I want the rematch straight away, just to prove to everyone.

"I'm here, I'm ready and I want my two titles back.

"Beating him will be great. He is the one now who will have to suffer. I'm going to work hard now and change things I did in the ring."

He added: "I'm a warrior. I'm strong, I'm still young and I've got a lot left in me. This is what boxing is all about, it's about how you come back."

Meanwhile, Vitali Klitschko's upcoming fight with Dereck Chisora has not dampened David Haye's enthusiasm for a bout against the Ukrainian.

Haye, 31, is technically retired having lost his last fight, and with it his WBA heavyweight title, to Klitschko's brother Wladimir in July.

Talk of a fight with Vitali, 40, persists, though the WBC champion's fight with Haye's fellow-Briton Chisora appears to muddy the water further.

Haye said: "I can wait as long as it takes. He's 40 at the moment, I've just turned 31. If he was to leave it five years that's fine by me."

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