• Light-welterweight

Hunter: Khan must commit to US

Amir Khan believes he needs to iron out the mistakes if he is to gain a title rematch with Danny Garcia © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Khan eyes 'perfect' Alexander bout
  
• News: Mayweather Jr planning UK bout
  
• News: Khan eyes title after coming through 'toughest fight'
  
• News: Khan survives huge scare to beat Diaz on points
  
• Profile: Amir Khan

Trainer Virgil Hunter believes Amir Khan must commit more time to his San Francisco gym if the Bolton-born fighter is serious about mounting a title challenge to Danny Garcia.

Khan battled to a unanimous points victory over Julio Diaz in their catchweight bout in Sheffield on Saturday, despite being knocked to the canvas by the Mexican in the fourth round.

The 26-year-old lost his WBA super world light-welterweight title to Garcia in July 2012, and Hunter has stated that Khan must commit to full time training in the United States in order to challenge the boxing elite once again.

"I'm convinced now that, in his own mind, Amir knows he's got to work more and come to the gym more," Hunter said. "Amir has to acknowledge that he is at a disadvantage because of the distance between us.

"I see Amir for three months when he comes over here, so the opposition can creep ahead of you because all the top fighters are with their trainers all the time.

"It is something we are going to work on to see if we can bring him up to the level we need him to be at."

However Khan, who switched to Hunter's stewardship after parting with Freddie Roach in September last year, has hinted that he will continue to travel to San Francisco as he eyes a potential rematch with Garcia.

"I will probably fly to San Francisco in between fights and do mini-camps," Khan said. "It's going to be difficult. My family's in England but I don't mind travelling back and forth.

"It's going to take time. I know I started making the same old mistakes again but this is a fight I needed, a tough 12-round fight against a strong guy. I am going to improve as a fighter.

"At times I get too brave for my own good but that's what makes me exciting and it is what people love. I'd love the Garcia fight again because I know the mistakes I made, and I won't make them again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.