• Light-welterweight

Khan confirms Roach split

ESPN staff
September 15, 2012
Amir Khan has lost his last two fights © Getty Images
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Amir Khan has confirmed his association with trainer Freddie Roach has come to an end, following defeats in his most recent two fights.

Khan revealed last month he expected to split from Roach, who helped put the Brit's career back on track following a devastating knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008.

He won two world titles - the WBA and IBF light-welterweight crowns - under the tutelage of Roach, and was victorious in eight consecutive bouts before recent reverses against Lamont Peterson and Garcia.

Khan has said he is looking for a trainer who will sharpen up his defence, following a stoppage loss to Danny Garcia in July, which saw him surrender the WBA crown.

"Officially I've left Freddie Roach," Khan said on Twitter. "Just spoke to him and had a good professional chat and maybe in the future we [will] work together.

"Freddie understood why I'm looking at other trainers and wished me all the best for the future."

Khan added in a separate tweet that he intends to confirm his new trainer at some point on Saturday.

Roach said: "[Khan] said, 'I know you're busy with your other fighters and I'm going to go in a different direction'. He said, 'No hard feelings, maybe we'll get back together someday'. He was being nice. I wished him luck. I've been fired before."

Naazim Richardson, who has worked with Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley, is expected to be piloted in as Roach's replacement. Hopkins and Mosley have also been tipped to work as mentors to Khan.

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