• Boxing

'Move over Floyd, Amir is ready to take your crown'

Amir Khan defeated Luis Collazo on points in his last outing in Las Vegas © Getty Images

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Amir Khan is poised to overtake Floyd Mayweather as the world's leading boxer and become the man to beat for a generation of new fighters.

That is the view of Khan's trainer Virgil Hunter as the Briton prepares to face American Devon Alexander under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Mayweather has been the pound-for-pound king for longer than anyone in history but Hunter, who was given the responsibility of rebuilding Khan after his double defeats in 2011-12, claims his charge is ready to claim the American's crown.

"Amir is one of our elite boxers," Hunter told the Daily Mail. "He has just two more levels to ascend.

"The first is to prove that he is on the way to greatness. I expect him to do that against Alexander.

"The second is to establish himself as truly great."

When once he was known as much for his celebrity lifestyle as his performances in the ring, Khan has insisted marriage and the birth of his first daughter have helped him regain focus on his boxing career.

And Hunter, who first saw Khan in action on his way to claiming silver at the Athens Olympics, believes the Briton's determination to succeed can be a model for younger fighters coming through.

"Can Amir be a blueprint for future generations?" Hunter told the Guardian. "I think he can because by being Pakistani and the culture and a race which is not really involved in sports that much, it's a country which has gone through a lot. Furthermore, he has the support of fans from the UK. They get behind him.

"We hope we are arriving at a time where it's a case of move over Floyd, Amir is here. That is the goal. He is getting close to that point but he has to keep practising and really want it. If he exhibits those traits then why not? He has the physical ability for sure and if he continues to tie in his mental capacity why not?"

Khan faces Alexander in a non-title welterweight fight at boxing's glitziest venue on Saturday amid growing rumours that a multi-million dollar fight with Mayweather is on the cards. But Hunter claims the American will soon be dethroned as the biggest name in the sport.

"[Amir] has all the physical attributes for greatness. Now, at 28, married and with his first child he has gained in maturity. The mentality for greatness is coming.

"Mayweather has proved that to be recognised as the best and to be the highest earner you don't have to go out to entertain the fans.'

"In soccer you don't have to be the one who kicks the ball hardest and furthest. People admire the player with the most skill, the one who does things with the ball that others cannot.

"In boxing, that person now is Mayweather. Soon it can be Khan.'

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd