LONDON • Amir Khan threw water over Phil Lo Greco after being taunted by the Canadian at a press conference to promote the British boxer's return to the ring after almost two years away.
Khan's comeback, which comes after a period of marital difficulties and a spell in the "I'm a Celebrity" reality TV jungle, will see him take on his 33-year-old opponent in Liverpool on April 21.
Lo Greco, who has won 28 of his 31 fights, mocked Khan by insisting he had been on a losing streak in and out of the ring since losing his last fight against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in May 2016.
"After the Canelo loss you went on a losing streak - family, wife, and then you go out and tweet to the heavyweight champion of the world. What is wrong with you, mate?" said Lo Greco.
He was referencing a tweet that Khan had sent to Anthony Joshua last summer regarding an alleged relationship with his wife Faryal Makhdoom.
Khan responded to the jibes by throwing water towards Lo Greco in front of the media in Liverpool, prompting security to intervene, before the Briton insisted he would take the bout as seriously as ever.
"I will train like it's a world title fight. Greco says maybe I'm past my best. I'm 31 and at the peak of my career," said the 2004 Olympic lightweight silver medallist who has 31 wins in 35 fights, with 19 knockouts.
"For me, boxing is the way forward. Boxing put me here and I am going to finish on a high.
"I have a great three-fight deal. To start in Liverpool, a great city, this will be another big one. He has just motivated me to go to the gym and work hard. I am going to give this guy a beating for 12 rounds."
Cynics may suggest his antics were designed to reignite the public interest in him since signing with promoter Eddie Hearn, who has made no secret of his desire to make a domestic super-fight against welterweight rival Kell Brook happen.
Brook returns to the ring for the first time since he lost his IBF (International Boxing Federation) title to Errol Spence last year when he faces Sergey Rabchenko of Belarus in Sheffield next month.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
