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twitterAmir Khan, Dmitry Salita focusing only on their WBA title bout
Associated Press
Muhammad Ali, right, and Amir Khan appearing at the European Jumping and Dressage Championships in Windsor England, Friday Aug. 28, 2009. The appearance is part of a week long tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland to help promote Ali’s charitable work.
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 | 4 p.m.
LONDON — Amir Khan doesn’t want his WBA light-welterweight title defense against the unbeaten Dmitry Salita to be overshadowed by the fact it pits the Muslim champion against a Jewish opponent.
Both boxers spoke Thursday in a media conference call and downplayed any religious significance in the Dec. 5 fight in Newcastle.
“The religious thing that we do is in our private time. When I walk into any fight, I do what I have to do,” said Khan, a 22-year-old Briton who has one loss in 22 fights.
Salita is a Ukraine-born American with 30 wins and a draw who has been the WBA’s No. 1 contender for a year.
“We’re professional boxers,” he said. “I will go into the fight prepared mentally and spiritually to the best of my ability to win the fight.
Based in New York, the 27-year-old Salita has never fought outside of the United States or Puerto Rico.
“I am coming to a foreign country to fight a world champion and I can understand why people will say I’m the underdog,” Salita said. “But that doesn’t faze me. That’s part of boxing and it will inspire me to train harder and run more miles.
“I have been the No. 1 contender for a long time. Amir is a very good fighter, but there are things that I know I can take advantage of.”
Khan’s only defeat was a first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott 14 months ago. While Salita’s draw with Ramon Montano in March 2006 came after he was knocked down twice in the opening round.
“I was not 100 percent for that fight and I bore the consequences for it,” Salita said. “I fixed those mistakes and I didn’t repeat them. I know I’m up against a fast starter with fast hands but I will be ready for that.”
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