Khan keeping feet on the ground ahead of Collazo bout

Touching down in Las Vegas, Amir Khan had just one thing on his mind. Despite being mobbed by the American public pitching their lord of the ring, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, for a future fight, he must first get past his compatriot Luis Collazo.

Odds-on at 2/5, Khan will be hoping to extinguish experiences of his last visit to Sin City in 2011, when he was knocked down by Colombian Danny Garcia. The crime in Khan’s eyes being; there is yet to be a rematch.
He will have to be on his guard against Collazo who is unbeaten in four fights, having knocked out Victor Ortiz last time.

Khan seems in a calm mood. Speaking to the media, he considered his last visit to Vegas and is in no doubt that lessons have been learned.

I just have to worry about what I do and that is why I’m up here,” he said.

“I have been in Las Vegas before and I know that it can be hard to relax, hard to focus on what I have to do. I can’t make any mistakes this time.”

Collazo, at 2/1 is the clear outsider, reflected even more by odds of 11/2 to win on points, and 4/1 to repeat events of his last contest by knocking Khan out.

The boy from Bolton will receive $1.5M just for turning up, though he eyes a bigger prize. The headline act in this boxing circus; Mayweather, with his entourage, enter the MGM immediately after. Many within sporting circles are predicting a much anticipated booking between the American and Khan in the near future, despite negotiations breaking down in December.

Understandably disappointed, Khan reflected: “It was not good, but there was nothing that I could do.”

A knock-out could well be on the cards with either boxer no strangers to delivering winning blows. Last time out, Khan had to wait until round 10 and is 33/1 to repeat this against Collazo.

Returning to the ring after a one year absence will be the biggest test. After the break though, he insists he is in good shape.

“The break has been great for me and I mean that; I feel like I have been in training camp for eight months and that has helped me. I have finally had a break from boxing.”