Friday 18 March 2016 10:57, UK
Amir Khan is preparing for a super fight against Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas, but Breidis Prescott threatened to ruin his ambitious plans back in 2008.
Over seven years have passed since that September night which threatened to permanently derail Khan's promising career - and made the name of his Colombian opponent.
The Bolton man has since captured the attention of the sport with his audacious decision to challenge 'Canelo' Alvarez for the WBC middleweight title in boxing's capital on May 7.
A luxury new arena, with the appearance of a shiny spaceship, will stage the lucrative clash in the desert resort and a Mexican holiday should create a pre-bout party.
For Khan, the vibrant festivities will be far removed from the morgue-like atmosphere in Manchester that followed the 51-second defeat to Prescott.
The 'Khanqueror' proudly recalls how he ruined Khan's unbeaten record, but was unaware he would be facing the former Olympic silver medallist until he arrived in Britain.
I was confident and thought I would fight well, but I didn't even know until that day who Amir Khan was.
"When I first went over there I was a young fighter and I didn't even realise who I was fighting," Prescott told Sky Sports. "I didn't even know it was Amir Khan. I was confident and thought I would fight well, but I didn't even know until that day who Amir Khan was."
Khan's path through the professional ranks had already been fraught with danger and concerns were raised about his punch resistance following worrying knockdowns in wins over Willie Limond and Michael Gomez.
A new Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio had been hired to fix apparent technical deficiencies and Khan defiantly hit back at his critics in a pre-fight interview, which in hindsight served as an eerie prediction.
"I've proved to so many people I've got a chin by getting up off the floor and winning a fight," he told Sky Sports. "You can put anyone in the ring with me. Amir Khan is not going to be gone until he is out for the 10 count."
Khan's bravery can never be questioned, but Rubio's high-risk selection of a puncher like Prescott would prove disastrous.
A first jolting jab sent shock waves through Khan's legs and he would be lifted off his feet by a thunderous right hand-left hook combination from Prescott.
"It was the biggest moment of my life when I caught him with that one-two," said Prescott. "Then I just kept on him until I had finished him off."
As Prescott joyfully phoned his mother to recount details of his whirlwind win, a grim-faced Khan was left to give his own reaction in a sombre post-fight interview.
"Amir Khan is going to come back stronger, definitely," he said afterwards.
Khan would fulfil this bold promise throughout his career, overcoming a contentious points loss to Lamont Peterson and another stunning stoppage to Danny Garcia, before he finally landed a lucrative clash with Alvarez.
Any talk of a rematch with Prescott would be short-lived, but at the age of 32, the South American still follows Khan's career with interest.
Prescott refuses to write off the Brit, although he fears that Alvarez's physical advantages should mean he halts Khan before the halfway mark.
"Yes it surprised me, but Amir Khan has a chance because he has the speed," said Prescott. "Saul has the strength, so Khan has to be careful and keep using his speed. He's taking a chance, but it's going to be a great fight, a hard fight.
"Amir Khan is an excellent fighter. The only reason he has lost is because his jaw doesn't hold a strong punch - and Saul has a strong punch. But that is the only reason he's lost fights in the past.
"I think Alvarez could stop him within six rounds."
Twice more Prescott would travel to the United Kingdom. He was on the wrong end of a masterful points win for Kevin Mitchell, while he says 'everyone will tell you' that Paul McCloskey should not have escaped with the verdict after being floored in the first round.
Prescott is due to return to the ring on April 29 - just over a week before Khan-Alvarez lights up Vegas - and would happily make the trip back to Britain if any other aspiring champions call his name.
"I would love to go back to England, because England has always welcomed me with open arms, even after the fight with Amir Khan," he said.
"I would come back to England whenever. I have never run from a boxer and whenever they ask, I will go."
