Amir Khan v Marcos Maidana, WBA light-welterweight
Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
Date: Saturday 11 December in US, Sunday 12 December in UK
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website around 0400 GMT on Sunday; re-run hourly on 5 live sports extra from 0730-1230 on Sunday; also live on Sky Box Office

Roach has been Khan's trainer since July 2008

Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach says he is confident his charge will not lose a round in his fight against Marcos Maidana on Saturday.

Roach will be in Khan's corner for the Bolton man's third defence of his WBA light-welterweight belt in Las Vegas.

The trainer told BBC Radio 5 live: "We're ready for whatever this guy brings. If he wants to be aggressive or he wants to stand and wait we're ready.

"I don't think we'll lose a round and I feel we'll knock this guy out."

The 50-year-old continued: "I feel I have the better puncher of the two, the better boxer and just general all-round fighter.

"His speed is overwhelming at times and even though this guy has had fast sparring partners they don't have the speed of Amir."

The Los Angeles-based Roach also revealed Khan is beginning to get the better of six-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao during their sparring sessions.

"From the first to the last time they sparred there's a big difference and Amir got the best of Manny more times than not this time," Roach added.

"But by the time they get to the stage where people want to match them up I think Manny will be retired and I think Amir will have gone through the rest."

And Khan confirmed going to toe-to-toe against Pacquiao without headguards did not appeal to him, in part, due to the friendship the pair have forged.

"I wouldn't want to fight Manny because I think it puts me in a bad position, especially as I train with Freddie Roach and I don't want to put him in that position of having to pick between us," Khan commented.

"The same goes for our conditioning coach, Alex Ariza. I don't want to put him in that position.

"So, really, I would never fight Manny because it would cause too many complications. On top of that, Manny and I are good friends.

"We eat at the same restaurants, we travel in the same car, we run and train together every day, we've built that bond up.

"We're really good friends and I think it would be tough to fight him."

Roach, though, is keen for Khan to tackle five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, whose planned fight with Pacquiao fell through in January when the pair could not agree terms.

"I do feel Mayweather won't fight Manny, and if he won't fight Manny we have another guy out here in Amir," Roach boasted. "And you know what? I think a lot of excuses are going to start coming our way."

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