Amir Khan focused on becoming welterweight world champion
Wednesday 10 January 2018 20:24, UK
Amir Khan is confident he can overcome some of the best pound-for-pound fighters and become a welterweight world champion this year.
Khan, a former light-welterweight world champion, will return to the ring for the first time in almost two years on April 21, live on Sky Sports from Liverpool's Echo Arena.
The 31-year-old, who has signed a three-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing, is targeting an opponent ranked in the top 10 for his next contest but says the dream is to become a world champion at 147lbs.
"I know what mistakes I have made and I don't want to make them again," Khan told Sky Sports News.
"I still want to campaign at 147, win another world title at this division and show the world where I belong.
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"I know I have got the skills, the speed, the youth and the energy to do this. It's going be tough. It's not going to be easy.
"The division I am in is probably one of the best in the world - you've got the likes of Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Lamont Peterson, Errol Spence Jr - you've got so many big names in this division.
"I really believe I belong in that mix so I just can't wait to get in there and get my first fight out of the way.
"I'm very confident [of winning another world title] and I want to be sat here in 12 months' time as a world champion.
"Being with Eddie Hearn, who also has got a great relationship with all of the promoters in America as well as here [will help].
"I think he can get me that big world title fight and let's make it happen. That's my dream to become world champion again."
Khan suffered a sixth-round knockout loss to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Las Vegas on his last ring outing in May 2015.
The 2004 Olympic silver medallist admits the step up in weight was a failed experiment and his intention is to remain at 147lbs for the time being.
"Moving up to middleweight didn't work for me," Khan said.
"I fought 'Canelo', and 'Canelo' was just way too big for me physically, and his strength was just so much more than mine.
"I think I belong in the welterweight division. I have the height and the body frame for that."
