By John F. McKenna (McJack): Former WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) promises to correct the mistakes he made in his first fight with new WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) last December in Washington D.C.

For a period of time it appeared that all of Khan’s focus was centered on what he felt were the injustices that caused him to be deprived of his WBA and IBF titles. But Amir has finally acknowledged that there were flaws in his game plan against Peterson. Khan will be working together with five time trainer of the year Freddie Roach to make adjustments so that he does not make those mistakes a 2nd time.

Prior to his first fight with Peterson, Khan was coming off of an impressive five round KO win over Zab Judah and he was riding high. Some boxing pundits were asserting even before his fight with Peterson that he was not taking Lamont seriously enough. In some respects Amir seemed to be approaching the Peterson fight as though it would be a walk in the park.

Khan at the time seemed to be more focused on how to get WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) into the ring in the latter part of 2012. Freddie Roach’s frequent pronouncements that within 18 months Khan would be the #1 Pound for Pound fighter in the world only seemed to fuel Amir’s overestimation of his own abilities.

It may have been a mistake in the first place for Khan to take on a fighter of Peterson’s abilities in his hometown. But Amir himself must shoulder a great deal of the blame for what happened in Washington last December. Most importantly Khan should have focused on Peterson who had the reputation of being a tough opponent as well as being a good fighter at close quarters.

Roach had warned Amir prior to the fight not to allow Lamont to trap him on the ropes. Instead of following Roach’s instructions however, Khan in the beginning almost seemed to welcome fighting off the ropes, openly defying Freddie’s instructions. By the time Amir realized he had made a mistake fighting Peterson’s fight it was too late because he had exhausted his energy.

In fairness to Peterson he followed the game plan laid out for him and fought a terrific fight. In retrospect Khan losing to Peterson may have been the best thing that could have happened to him. Amir had begun to believe his own press clippings, as they say. His hat size was getting too big is another way of putting it.

Khan is fortunate that in Freddie Roach he has a great trainer who has guided numerous boxers to championships. It is not wise to ignore the advice of so gifted a trainer. Hopefully for his own sake Amir has learned his lesson.