• Amir Khan v Lamont Peterson

Khan pushed to the limit to combat Peterson's power

Amir Khan has admitted that Lamont Peterson possesses the strength to cause him real problems in their world title fight on Saturday, although the Brit is optimistic his most gruelling training camp to date will stand him in good stead.

Khan puts his IBF and WBA light-welterweight belts on the line at the Convention Center in Washington against an opponent who has only tasted defeat once - in his previous world title challenge against Timothy Bradley in 2009 - in a 31-fight career.

Boasting an impressive CV, Peterson is a dangerous operator and Khan's trainer Freddie Roach is aware of the threat the American poses. Roach has first-hand knowledge of Peterson's style having worked alongside Peterson's coach Barry Hunter with the US Olympic squad this year, when Roach put the 27-year-old through his paces on the pads.

"Peterson is strong, very strong, and we have had to prepare accordingly," said Roach after the Khan-Peterson fight was signed. "He is the strongest, most dangerous opponent Amir has ever faced."

Peterson may possess "freakish strength" but Khan insists the man in his corner has worked out the perfect gameplan to nullify his opponent's assets. "Freddie said to me he had taken him on the pads for two or three rounds, and Freddie knew everything about him," Khan told the Daily Telegraph.

"Freddie can read an opponent straightaway, he can see the mistakes, strengths, weaknesses. He thought if we do take a fight with Peterson, he knew exactly what we'd do."

With Khan's camp wary of what lies ahead, conditioning coach Alex Ariza has delivered an appropriately arduous training programme for the Bolton-born fighter.

"I've pushed Amir harder than he has ever gone, and yet he has managed to hit levels," he said. "We've done everything we normally do - 5am track sessions, sprint sessions, swimming in the sea, running the dunes, running the steps at Santa Monica - and then taken it to another level. Amir has shown amazing abilities to withstand pain, and is now so strong mentally."

Peterson, meanwhile, has kept a lower profile than Khan in the lead up to the fight, but has warned the champion he is ready to go into the trenches in order to prevail in front of his home fans in the US capital.

"I do respect Khan for taking this fight in Washington, my home town. Most world champions wouldn't do that," he said. "A lot of people in America like Amir Khan, and give him respect for fighting the best fights, and for how well he boxes.

"Khan throws a lot of punches, and works the whole fight, but I'm prepared to go into whatever territory it takes to beat him."

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