Amir Khan believes his trainer Virgil Hunter holds the key to his hopes of securing victory in what could prove his defining fight against Terence Crawford.
The 32-year-old challenges WBO welterweight champion Crawford at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
American Crawford is at the peak of his powers, to the extent that alongside Vasyl Lomachenko he is considered one of the two finest fighters in the world.
Hunter oversaw Khanās most convincing, disciplined performances when, after successive defeats, the Brit joined him and excelled in overcoming Luis Collazo, Chris Algieri and Devon Alexander.
But Hunterās ill health meant Khan was then being trained by Joe Goosen until the Crawford fight was signed.
Khanās victories over Phil Lo Greco and Samuel Vargas under Goosen heavily featured the vulnerabilities that contributed to his four defeats, with the unremarkable Vargas almost ending his career, but with the respected Hunter back in his corner he is confident the discipline he requires will return.
āLook at my last performances,ā he told Press Association Sport.
āMy last maybe wasnāt the best, a change of trainer does that. Thatās no disrespect to Joe Goosen whoās an amazing coach, but sometimes when you change trainer and your style a little itās too soon to have a good performance.
āWith Virgil, weāve been together for over six years so he brings out the best in me.
āI trust in him and I respect him. The skills come from that respect, and listening to him and not making mistakes.
āItās great to be back in camp with Virgil. We work very hard, heās back healthy and Iām back doing what I love doing. Training hard, being pushed. Heās arranged everything to take that pressure off me, the sparring, everything.
āItās being smart, boxing (Crawford). Iām the better boxer. Itās being smart, boxing, being careful and not making mistakes and sticking to the game-plan throughout the fight.
āIāve got the speed, power and size over him, and the experience as well, fighting the better class of opponents. Iāve got everything on my side going into this fight, heās just got the title.ā
Crawfordās trainer Brian McIntyre insisted this week that not even Hunter believes Khan is capable of victory.
Hunter had required persuading that Khan should previously accept the dangerous fight he lost to Saul āCaneloā Alvarez, yet with Crawford was happy at the level of risk.
āItāll be a big help to have Virgil in the corner, especially in the difficult moments that might happen in the fight,ā Khan said.
āI trust that he can maybe help me not have those difficult moments, and what I should change, he knows me better than any other trainer.
āHeās been a lot more confident (than he was against Alvarez), a lot more confident. Heās been a lot calmer, that Iām not giving that weight away, and that Iām ready.ā
:: Amir Khan fights Terence Crawford live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday 20th April. For more informationĀ www.bt.com/btsportboxoffice.
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