Two-time world champion Amir Khan ready to invoke spirit of Leicester City in bid to upset odds against Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas
Britain's Amir Khan has vowed to draw inspiration from Leicester City’s fairytale Premier League title victory as he bids to shock middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The 29-year-old is moving up two weight divisions as big-punching Mexican Alvarez, whose only defeat in a 48-fight career came against unbeaten pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013, defends his WBC crown.
Bolton-born Khan intends to use Leicester’s title success, confirmed by Tottenham’s draw with Chelsea on Monday, as inspiration. The Foxes upset all the odds despite being 5,000/1 outsiders to lift the Premier League trophy at the start of the campaign.
“I’m seen as the underdog in this fight against Canelo but I feel this is the year of the underdog. What Leicester City have achieved is absolutely amazing,” said two-time world champion Khan.
“You would have been called crazy if you thought that Leicester would win the title at the start of the season. It’s such an inspiring story.
“I’m definitely going to use that to help me because it shows that even though people say you have no chance, what really matters is how you perform on the pitch, or in the boxing ring in my case.
“I’m ready to shock the world and beat Canelo even if some may have written off my chances. I know I’m ready for the fight and want to get in the ring right now.”
Khan’s fight with Alvarez will be the first boxing bout at the new 20,000-seater T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Khan added: “Every fighter dreams of topping the bill here because so many legendary fights have taken place in the city.
“I have fought here [in Las Vegas] a number of times against the likes of Zab Judah, Marcos Maidana and Devon Alexander but this is one fight I’m really excited about.
“I want to make the first fight here a remarkable one and a fight that will live long in the memory of all the fans.”