By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
Khan defends the World Boxing Association light-welterweight belt against Brooklynite Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, the fifth fight for which Khan has worked with Roach, marking the British boxer's US debut.
"The 140lb division is the most competitive division in the world right now and the guy who emerges from the group will be the next pound-for-pound king," said Roach.
Apart from Khan, the emerging talent in the division Ricky Hatton once dominated includes Americans Victor Ortiz, Timothy Bradley [World Boxing Organisation champion] and Devon Alexander [World Boxing Council/International Boxing Federation], and Argentine Marcos Maidana.
"I think I've got the best boxer in Amir out of them all, because he is adaptable. He has only fulfilled 50 per cent of his potential so far, so the rest is up to him. Those other guys are really one-dimensional by comparison," said Roach.
"Amir is a great student – he absorbs, he listens and wants to learn. Amir has picked things up quicker than [Filipino] Manny Pacquiao. A fight between Amir and [American six-time world champion] Mayweather would be a year to a year and-a-half away.
"Style-wise it would be a good fight and I would like Amir to fight him one day but let's take care of the guys at 140lb first."
Source: telegraph.co.uk
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