Khan retains confidence in new trainer

11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2008

Amir Khan believes the first defeat of his career has given him a "kick up the backside" after being spectacularly knocked out in less than a minute by Colombian Breidis Prescott.

A stunning 54-second knockout defeat in Manchester on Saturday night left his world title dreams in tatters, but Khan insisted he still has complete confidence in new trainer Jorge Rubio, despite the Cuban suggesting Prescott as an opponent.

"Sometimes I let my heart rule my mind and it showed," said Khan afterwards. "I've been hit harder in my career but it was just at the wrong time, too early in the fight before I could get into it."

He added: "I'm not going to let it get to me. Every fighter wins and loses in their career and I'm just going to come back stronger. Me and Jorge will work on my mistakes."

Khan thinks Rubio - who replaced Oliver Harrison after the Salford trainer was sacked earlier this year - is still the right man to guide his career in the ring.

He said: "Yes, definitely. Training went really well but I happened to get caught with a shot by a power puncher."

Khan added: "I'd definitely like to fight him again in the future. I know what mistakes I made and it's too late now. But I've never said no to anyone, I'll fight anyone.

"It's given me that kick up the backside in a way.

"I've got no excuses. The better man won. He caught me cold in the first round and I didn't recover from it."

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