More needed from Amir Khan, trainer believes

LONDON: Amir Khan needs to re-dedicate himself to boxing if he is to have any hope of achieving his stated ambition of defeating the sport's superstar Floyd Mayweather, his trainer believes.

The British boxer is down to take on IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander in December with a potential bout against Mayweather in his sights after that.

Khan, 26, was ringside in Las Vegas at the weekend to see Mayweather stretch his record to 45-0 with a majority decision win over Saul Alvarez for the WBC and WBA light-middleweight titles.

He is on record as saying he believes his speed in the ring could cause problems for the American and he was touted as a possible opponent when the pound-for-pound king next steps into the ring in May 2014.

But Virgil Hunter, who has trained the Briton for his last two fights, thinks his charge needs to show a greater dedication to boxing before any possible showdown with Mayweather.

"If he is going to be really competitive, he has to show the same dedication and desire Floyd Mayweather shows. If he doesn't he will have a tough night," Hunter said in the Times.

"If he changes his ideas and really commits to boxing and really becomes driven to be great in the sport, then I think he could grow very quickly.

"Amir has a lot of potential and a lot of ability and he has to maximise what he has and make it his priority if he wants to be great.

"You can't take months off boxing, running here and there and there, and think you can come into an eight-week camp and perform at the best of your ability.

"You have to live the life, I am not afraid to tell him that because I am trying to get the best out of him." (AFP)