• Boxing

Judah intensifies mental battle with Khan

ESPN staff
July 21, 2011
Amir Khan has been sparring with Manny Pacquiao, another of trainer Freddie Roach's boxers © Getty Images
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Zab Judah has stepped up the mind games as his fight with Amir Khan draws nearer, criticising the Brit's boxing CV and disrupting his preparations at a media workout.

After Judah arrived 45 minutes late for the specially scheduled session in Las Vegas, Khan only had time for a brief spell of shadowboxing and skipping before being forced out of the ring.

Although Judah has been largely respectful to Khan ahead of their bout for the WBA and IBF light-welterweight title on Saturday, he does have a history of trying to unsettle opponents.

And as if to prove that point, has taken a swipe at the level of competition Khan has faced in his career to date. He suffered a humiliating first-round KO defeat to Breidis Prescott in 2008, before defending his WBA strap against, among others, a couple of unheralded names - Paul McCloskey and Paul Malignaggi - who were never expected to pose much of a threat.

"Amir Khan's career is nowhere near as great as mine," Judah said. "I've got more knockouts than he has had fights. I respect him as a young guy coming in who has the heart … to step into a major fight like this. But it's a gamble for him."

Nonetheless Judah, who has 41 wins and 28 KOs in 49 fights - reckons he can see a younger version of himself in Khan. "Like him as a young fighter, I was willing to fight anybody," he said.

"At 21 I was champion of the world and challenging everybody. Khan was a year older at 22. I didn't care who I stepped in the ring with."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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