Originally Posted by Setanta Sports

Amir: I wasn't ready for Marquez


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Amir Khan admitted on Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour that he is not yet ready for lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez.

In a fascinating interview on his first appearance on the show he disclosed he watches every week, Khan also admitted that he has a burning itch to fight Breidis Prescott and would welcome fights with British lightweights John Murray and Jon Thaxton.

First of all, the 2004 Olympic Silver medallist spoke about the reasons he is taking on Andrey Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight crown.

"The lightweight division is all over the place," Khan said on Setanta Sports News.

"I wouldn't want to fight Marquez at this point in time. I'm not at my peak yet, I'd rather wait a few fights.

"I'm a very big lightweight. I get to ten stone easier. My mind will be less on the weight and i'll be focusing on things like power.

"He's a good world champion but not the best, he's easier and I dont need to wait a year or so.

"I really thought Kotelnik beat [Junior Witter]."

As for Prescott, who delivered the devastating knockout of Khan last September, the Bolton fighter says he will never be satisfied until he avenges this defeat.

"I think about the defeat everyday," Khan added. "I have to fight again. I've never said no to anyone.

"When Barrera name was mentioned I was jumping on Frank [Warren] to get the fight on. He was saying 'Are you sure you've just had one fight since the defeat?' I just said: 'Get me the fight'."

The names of Thaxton and Murray are always mentioned in connection with Khan, as the two premier British lightweights whom he did not fight.

Khan says he would have been happy to fight either man if a deal could have been reached between his promoter Frank Warren and their representative Mick Hennessy and will be happy to do so in the future if they earn it in the next year.

"I'll fight anyone the Jon Thaxton and Jon Murrays but you can't do a deal," Khan went on.

"Defintiely, I'd have like to have boxed them just to shut them up to prove to them I'm a better fighter than them. I would have beat them and then people would have said it was nothing.

"I've nothing against any fighter. Boxing's a sport and they're both great fighters.

"It's up to them to get off their backsides and achieve something to fight me."