By Adam Hill: In just under three weeks Las Vegas will welcome (dethroned) Amir ‘King’ Khan- former IBF and WBA titlist- as he attempts to claim Danny Garcia’s WBC light-welterweight crown.

Events outside the ring have threatened to overshadow the affair. Tensions at the press conference gave it a much needed publicity boost and the public eagerly await the fight. A key factor in determining a possible winner of the fight (who will, no doubt, be in line for a match up with the ‘boxing elite’) is preparation and there have been huge differences in that area for each fighter.

It has been a tasking period for Amir Khan since losing his titles to Lamont Peterson. Judging discrepancies sullied the result of the fight and the pair were ordered participate in a heavily anticipated rematch. Preparation for the bout was less than ideal due to fall-outs with his conditioning coach, Alex Ariza. He also needed to locate his training camp in the Philippines, in account of trainer Freddie Roach’s commitments to Manny Pacquiao.

Khan v Peterson II was scheduled to take place on the 15th of May, the event was cancelled due to Peterson testing positive for synthetic testosterone.
The fundamental question in the British fighter’s case is: can he avoid becoming a victim of over-training and stay motivated? This is because he participated in a gruelling training camp in preparation for the Peterson fight and was heavily let down, with no time to spare, before the bout. He was then back in the gym to prepare for Garcia- allowing him little physical or mental rest. Then consider the fact that the initial camp for his fight with Peterson was far from perfect.

Khan’s opponent Danny Garcia, on the other hand, is undefeated in twenty-three bouts and fresh from a win over Mexican legend Erik Morales. Taking into account a normal, if not slightly hurried, preparation- after the Morales fight- it’s hard to understand why he is a 3/1 underdog. . If Khan shows signs of staleness, on the day, then that could be the opening the Philadelphian needs to cause a monumental upset.

With all the recent damage boxing has received, it would be great if this fight lived up to its full potential. It has all the characteristics of a classic, given the crowd-pleasing nature of both men. Amir Khan has to be considered the favourite but by no means is it a settled account. Danny Garcia is facing the biggest test of his career but, with advantages gained by the stability of his camp, he has the tools necessary to hang on to his title if he can withstand the customary beginning of fight onslaught by Khan and take it to the later rounds where he can utilize the said advantages.