The win keeps Khan on course for a shot at the world titles but the 26-year-old admitted his defence needed to improve. PHOTO: AFP
The Briton quickly bounced up off the canvas in the fourth round but after a count there were more worrying moments before he looked on the verge of being stopped in the 11th.
However, the former light-welterweight world champion prevailed and won a unanimous – but narrow – points decision by scores of 114-113, 115-113 and 115-112 in an enthralling encounter at the Sheffield Arena.
The victory kept Khan on course for a shot at the world titles later this year, but before that the 26-year-old said he needed to work on his defence once again. Hunter is based in San Francisco and has urged the boxer to spend more time with him in the California city.
“I know there’s a lot of improvement still to be made, but it’s only my second training camp with Virgil,” Khan told a news conference. “Julio took my power and he was a big puncher himself. It’s only going to improve me as a fighter having fights like that. He never took a step backwards.
“I had to rethink and keep moving in the 11th round. If that was the old Amir Khan I would have got stuck in.
“I’m probably going to fly over to San Francisco between fights now and do a mini-camp so we can work on things that need to be improved upon. I’m going to spend more time there. The more time I spend with Virgil, the better I will get. I know what mistakes I made.”
Hunter says Khan must visit him before beginning training for his next fight – probably in December – if he wants to avenge his world title defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson, both from the US.
Diaz offers Khan word of advice
Diaz, 33, has no intention of retiring and hopes to face another light-welterweight contender next after insisting Khan never hurt him.
The former world lightweight champion also urged Khan to spend more time with Hunter and says the Briton is too exposed.
“I couldn’t finish him because he became more dangerous when he was hurt,” said Diaz. “I focused too much on the knockout and let the rounds slip away. It was a fair decision.
“He still made the same mistakes. You can’t change a fighter overnight, you have to be there 24/7. He needs to stop exposing himself.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.
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@dannygarciaoverrated As much as i love amir Khan we cannot deny some of his frailties, Wladimir during the start of his career suffered many knockouts but since he changed trainer and worked with emmanuel steward he got his career back on track......since amir change to virgil i see many improvements but you cannot tame a wild tiger.......no matter what you do with him you cannot expect amir to do hit and not get hit strategy, that guy will get into brawls and get hit....he just needs to realise when to move in and out and when to go toe to toe................if he keeps his head down just box and use his jab and keep distance there is no one in 140 or 147 who can beat him.
@ Raza, Dannys punching power isnt really a huge issue in my opinion, it can be neutralized, Ask Ashley Theophane. Same with Lucas (Who was beat by Maidana multiple times in the amateurs). I actually think Lamont Peterson (who khan beat, after you minus the point deductions/drug cheating) will beat Lucas in their fight in a fortnight.
In the garcia fight, Khan responded to getting knocked down in the wrong way. In this Diaz fight, he did the right thing.
He was hit by Maidana, and took it, and i think Maidana hits harder than Garcia, and as hard as Lucas.
The thing with Khan is that whatever he does no matter how many trainers he changes, he will never be a defensive fighter.........he will never stop brawling, and that is the reason why everyone loves him..............i love watching him but the thing is i dont see him winning against guys like lucas or danny as they have the one knockout punch power which Julio lacked........
This performance wasn't his best. But he did show significantly more maturity after getting knocked down, and although he was tagged a lot, he seemed to be able to take them better than his previous fights. So his punch resistance has got better. Liked his movement too.
Diaz is the real deal, He beat Shawn Porter in his last fight in mine and most peoples opinion. And Shawn Porter is a tremendously gifted fighter.
Over in New York, the guy who khan knocked out (Zab Judah), almost beat Danny Garcia late, That was officially a 2-3 point fight for Garcia on two of the scorecards. By no means an easy victory for Garcia.
Khan needs to pay more attention to what Virgils saying, not open up so much during the exchanges, keep working hard, and fight more like he did in the first 3 rounds in this fight, and the garcia fight. Because he was schooling both of them.
Not another Pakistani fighting at this level in any weight division, so im supporting this guy regardless.
Never a dull fight with Khan. Well done, pulled out that W.