By GAVIN GLICKSMAN, The Sun
AMIR KHAN has turned up the heat ahead of his clash with Paulie Malignaggi by branding the New Yorker an 'idiot'.
Malignaggi is determined to ruin Khan's American debut when they collide at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theatre on May 15.
But Khan, 23, intends to teach his trash-talking opponent a lesson by dismantling him in front of his home crowd.
The WBA light-welterweight champ said: "Malignaggi's very disrespectful but it's one of those things.
"I'm very confident I'll beat him. I'm confident before every fight and I'll go in there to do my best.
"It's great to be fighting at the Mecca of boxing and I can't wait to get in the ring and fight this guy.
"It's going to be a tough fight but that's boxing for you.
"When a guy pulls faces and is disrespectful to you, it's because he's scared.
"I respect all my opponents and I think any good fighter does the same.
"But when you get idiots like Paulie, you let it be."
Khan's last outing was an impressive 76-second demolition of Dmitriy Salita.
The successful title defence signalled the end of his relationship with Frank Warren and the beginning of a new chapter in his career as part of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy stable.
Malignaggi, 29, insists Salita was handpicked to make Khan look good due to his lack of big-fight experience.
But the Bolton ace insists he will make the American eat his words.
Khan added: "At the end of the day, Paulie's going to get knocked out — just like Salita did.
"I've got a great following in the UK and now I want to build a following in the US.
"It's a big achievement for me to be going to Madison Square Garden.
"I'm only 23 and I want to build up my name. I want to do it young — and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Khan has been accused of deserting his fans in Britain by making a full-time switch to America.
But the Bolton ace insists he will be back — as soon as he raises his profile Stateside.
Khan, who returned to training at Freddie Roach's Wildcard gym in LA yesterday, said: "Everyone's dream is to fight in America.
"I'm having my debut fight in America but I'm going to come back to Britain.
"I want to bring the massive fights to the UK and the way to do that is to build up my name in the US."
Golden Boy boast an impressive roster with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins on their books.
But Khan claims he will go on to become No1 in De La Hoya's stable.
He said: "I was the best fighter Frank Warren had for a long, long time and I want to do the same with Golden Boy.
"It's going to be hard but I love a challenge."
Source: thesun.co.uk
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