• Lightweight

Hunter: Khan's not chinny

ESPN staff
October 4, 2012
Amir Khan had no answer to Danny Garcia's power © PA Photos
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Amir Khan's new trainer Virgil Hunter has rubbished claims that the Brit has a problem with his chin.

Khan is looking to rebuild his career, having suffered back-to-back defeats to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia - albeit after the former fight Khan was reinstated by the WBA as champion after Peterson failed a dope test.

The Brit's camp moved to arrest the slide by replacing revered trainer Freddie Roach with Hunter. Roach's parting shot was to warn Khan to stay away from fighters who hit hard, including his man Manny Pacquiao, which was a clear reference to the perception that Khan cannot take a firm shot.

Hunter, though, feels it was a tactical error rather than susceptibility to a punch that cost Khan against Garcia and expects that to be proved when he takes on Carlos Molina in December.

"I don't think he has a chin problem," Hunter is quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. "It was some of the decisions he made after he took the first punch that cost him the fight against Garcia.

"Amir has what it takes to get back to the mountain top."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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