Amir Khan claims he does not care about the flak he is receiving for accepting £7million to fight in Saudi Arabia.
Khan has been criticised because of Saudi’s human rights record, while Friday night’s clash with Billy Dib, for the new WBC Pearl welterweight title, has been branded meaningless because the Aussie is a blown-up super-featherweight.
Khan is ignoring the snipers and says the offer to headline the ground-breaking show in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is too good to refuse. He claims it also gives him the chance to get April’s chastening loss to Terence Crawford out of his system.
“I don’t really care what people say,” said Khan.
“It’s something I really wanted to do. I wanted to keep busy and fighting in Saudi Arabia is something new. I’m very happy to be here. I don’t really care how the fight turns out – if it’s short or long – I just want to make sure I feel good in the ring and get the Crawford fight out of my system.
“I’ve got a new trainer and want to try new things. I feel under a little bit less pressure.”
The 32-year-old is the overwhelming favourite to beat former IBF featherweight champ Dib, 33, who replaced original opponent Neeraj Goyat at just two weeks’ notice.
Khan weighed in over a pound heavier than his fellow Muslim — whose parents emigrated to Australia from Lebanon, another Middle Eastern country, and will be the bigger man.
The Brit hopes to return to Jeddah to face Manny Pacquiao on November 9, and is also using this fight to launch his Super Boxing League in Saudi, with the Jeddah Sharks facing the Jeddah Tigers on the undercard.
“It’s not just about having one fight here and leaving,” he added. “I think Saudi Arabia could become a big fight venue, like Las Vegas or New York, and I want to be part of that.”
* Amir Khan v Billy Dib is exclusively live on Channel 5 this Friday night, with the undercard on 5Spike.
