Amir Khan to spend more time with US trainer after Julio Diaz scare

Amir Khan admits that he will have to spend more time with his trainer Virgil Hunter in San Francisco after being floored on his way to a 12-round points victory over Julio Diaz.

The Briton quickly bounced up off the canvas in the fourth round, but after a count there were more worrying moments before he looked on the verge of being stopped in the 11th round.

However, the former light-welterweight world champion prevailed and won a unanimous but narrow points decision by scores of 114-113, 115-113 and 115-112 in an enthralling encounter at the Sheffield Arena.

The victory kept Khan on course for a shot at the world titles late this year, but the 26-year-old admits that he needs once again to work on his defence.

It was Khan's second fight with Hunter in his corner since he sacked trainer Freddie Roach after his fourth-round stoppage loss to Danny Garcia in July last year. Hunter, who also trains world super-middleweight No1 Andre Ward, is based in San Francisco and has urged the boxer to spend more time with him in the California city.

Khan gets married in New York next month and admits that he will be in the United States more with his trainer, as well as his soon-to-be-wife Faryal Makhdoom, than in his hometown of Bolton in northwest England.

"I know there's a lot of improvement still to be made, but it's only my second training camp with Virgil," Khan said.