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Amir's long-shot

Stuart Brennan
26/ 7/2008

AMIR Khan's camp has defended the boxer's decision to take on inexperienced Jorge Rubio as his next coach.

It was confirmed on Friday on the MEN Sport website that the former Cuban national team coach will be charged with guiding unbeaten 21-year-old Khan as he enters the next phase of his career, and heads for the US.

Khan spent a week in the States working with big-name trainers Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather senior, Buddy McGirt and Freddie Roach, but in the end plumped for a virtual unknown in Miami-based Rubio.

The Cuban made his name in the amateurs, helping to take the brilliant Mario Kindelan to three World Amateur Championships and two Olympic gold medals - the second coming when he beat Khan in Athens.

Since then, he has joined a Cuban exodus into the professional game, moving to Miami and training a series of low- level US and Cuban fighters.

But Khan's dad Shah, an integral part of the Commonwealth lightweight champion's team, believes that Rubio has simply not got the breaks and will go on to become the world- renowned trainer of a world champion boxer.

Polished

"Just because Jorge hasn't trained anyone special doesn't mean he won't get there," said Shah.

"All these trainers who are at the top have got hold of a good boxer and polished him - that is how they got to the top and made their names.

"I am sure Jorge will do exactly the same. Once Amir gets to the top, everyone will know Jorge's name.

"Look at Ricky Hatton. He was an outstanding boxer and Billy Graham polished him up and got him to the top. The talent is already there."

Rubio is expected to fly over next month to link up with Khan at his Bolton gym, ahead of his Manchester Evening News Arena debut on September 6.

Khan's opponent is expected to be named next week, but favourite is 35-year-old American Derrick Gainer, who was WBA featherweight champ from 2000 to 2003.

Later in the year Khan will travel to Rubio's Xtreme Boxing Club gym in Miami for a training camp ahead of his expected US bow in December.

Khan split from Salford trainer Oliver Harrison in April, and was trained by promoter Frank Warren's matchmaker Dean Powell for his last fight.

Decision

The Rubio decision has taken many people by surprise, including veteran Manchester trainer Brian Hughes, who transformed another Olympic medallist, Robin Reid, into a professional world champion.

Hughes often makes the point that amateur boxing and pro boxing, despite having the same fundamental skills, are essentially different sports, and that turning pro involves telling young amateurs, however talented, to forget just about everything they have been taught and start again.

"I think it will be very difficult," said the 68-year-old who also took Pat Barrett to a European title.

"I am sure the fellow must be a very good coach, and has worked with Cuba at world championships and Olympic Games, but when it comes to the pros, he is learning the game just as much as Amir.

"He will be learning and teaching at the same time. I am not saying it won't work, but I would have thought that for someone like Amir with 18 fights to his name, would have been far better off going to an established man who could devote his time to him."

"I am sure Amir's people have done their homework, and he is a good prospect, but the truth is that there are good coaches over here."