Khan is Over-hyped and Fixed to Fall, Says Veteran Hardman Earl

Amir Khan celebrates his 21st birthday tomorrow at the Bolton Arena with a second defense of the Commonwealth lightweight title but his challenger Graham Earl is convinced he can spoil the party by handing the champion the first loss of his professional career.

Earl, 29, is a former British and Commonwealth champion who never lost either title in the ring. Instead, he relinquished the belts to go in search of greater prizes, first winning the World Boxing Union lightweight title and then losing a World Boxing Organization title challenge in February at Wembley to the big punching Australian Michael Katsidis.

That dramatic battle with Katsidis, which saw Earl stopped after five rounds, would be many fans' choice as Britain's fight of the year. Earl was floored three times but he put Katsidis down in the second and was furious that referee Micky Vann halted the contest.

"I still believe I could have won it if he had let it go on," said Earl last night. "Afterwards I took a break from boxing and did a lot of soul searching. Some were saying I should retire. But eventually I came to the conclusion: no, I am a fighter and I 110% still want to do it. I can come back stronger and better from this. I always knew I would be likely to wind up fighting Khan and I have watched all his fights. I know everything he can do, and I believe I am better. He has had 14 fights but I don't see too much improvement in him.

"He was put down by Willie Limond [the Scot from whom Khan took the Commonwealth title in July], and was all over the place. If I catch him like that you can guarantee I will not let him recover. I would knock him out and that's what I believe is going to happen."

Earl will have the backing of around 1,500 fans in the 7,000 capacity arena. A popular figure in his home town of Luton, Earl says their support can help him get the win he needs to resurrect his career while at the same time exposing Khan as an over-hyped pretender.

With a new American trainer, Guss Curran, supervising his preparations , Khan's challenger believes he will return from his break from the ring as a better fighter, and one who is more battle-hardened and savvy than the young champion.

Khan says Earl represents, by some distance, the most significant challenge of his professional career. His backers have gambled that Earl is past his best and that Khan will be too fresh and fast, but Earl insists: "They've got it wrong. Very, very wrong. They may think I'm finished, but they are in for the biggest shock of their lives."