By George Willis, New York PostThe welcome mat has been laid out for Amir Khan. The popular British boxer makes his debut on American soil tonight when he defends his WBA super lightweight championship against Brooklyn's Paulie Malignaggi at the Garden Theater.
Both fighters like to trash talk, and emotions reached a boiling point at the weigh-in yesterday when the two sides got into a pushing and shoving brawl.
The scale was knocked over and so were several bodies, but the fighters emerged unscarred. "The emotions are amazing between the two guys," Schaefer said. "I walked Amir back to his room after the weigh-in and Amir said to me, 'I'm going to punish him.'"
Malignaggi's response: "Bring it on!"
Khan, a silver medalist as a 17-year-old at the 2004 Games in Athens, is considered a future star in the sport. He has signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and is trained by Freddie Roach, the noted trainer of Manny Pacquiao. Five years into his pro career Khan is a world champion headlining on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" with pay-per-view riches beckoning on the horizon.
"He's here to become a global superstar," Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, declared of the 23-year-old from Bolton, England. "If you really want to be a true superstar you have to come to the United States and make a name for yourself, and that's exactly what Amir wants."
Khan (22-1, 16 KOs) is eager to justify the hype.
"I want to make a big impression in the United States," he said. "I could have stayed in the UK. But I want to make a name for myself and come over here. Paulie is the guy I'm going to use to be a big star over here."
Malignaggi isn't impressed.
"This is a fighter who has been built up to be a star, who hasn't really earned it yet," he said.
The Brooklyn native is oozing with confidence after a 12-round beat down of Juan Diaz last December. He sees Khan as his ticket to boxing's elite and perhaps a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"This is redemption," Malignaggi said. "This is what I've been waiting for because nobody, nobody thought I was going to be back in a world championship fight. It's an opportunity to beat a champion that everybody thinks is so great."
Both fighters are confident in their corners. Roach is Khan's third trainer, signing on after he was knocked out in one round by Breidis Prescott in September 2008. Khan, who has sparred with Pacquiao at Roach's Gym, has won all four of his bouts since.
"He still is learning, but he's come a long way in a short time," Roach said. "Getting knocked out by Prescott might have been the best thing that happened to him. It got us together."
Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs) has been rejuvenated under trainer Sherif Younan, who has encouraged Malignaggi slick-boxer style and tightened his form to add power to his punches. "Good technique and good form delivers power along with speed," Younan said. "[Khan] is definitely going to be surprised when he gets in there with Paulie."
Though Khan and Malignaggi might be fighting in the main event, the best 140-pounder on the card could be veteran Nate Campbell. He takes on Victor Ortiz in the other televised bout. In a division where Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander hold titles, winners tonight can expect more big fight this year.
PREDICTION: Malignaggi has plenty of heart and determination, but I doubt he can match Khan's skill level. Khan might be just as fast as Malignaggi and with more power. It might be difficult for Malignaggi to win rounds without looking like he's running. Khan by decision.
george.willis@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
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