FanHouse Amir Khan

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita is getting ready for his Dec. 5 title fight against world champion Amir Khan.

This bout is drawing lots of attention worldwide as Salita (30-0 and the official WBA welterweight contender) is an Orthodox Jewish fighter. He's become quite popular in New York, where he's lived since was he was 9 years old, to Israel and all the way to the Ukraine, where he was born.

In this FanHouse exclusive video, we hear from Salita fans, including heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Check out the video after the jump.

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

If there is one thing boxing star Omar Figueroa does not look like, it's a boxer. But the kid can fight, and it's because of his skills that Golden Boy Promotions signed him to a deal. In this FanHouse exclusive, Omar tells us how sparring with world champ Amir Khan led to his contract.

Check out the video after the jump.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- With Amir Khan now a world champion, many English boxing fans will be hoping to see him in the ring with Ricky Hatton.

Though the 22-year-old Khan's trainer is enthusiastic about a Battle of Britain bout, promoter Frank Warren has strong reservations.

Hatton's future in the sport has been in doubt since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in the second round of their 140-pound title fight in May and he went to the hospital for a precautionary brain scan.

Hatton, who has been known for quickly putting on weight after fights, has returned to a hospital in his native Manchester in the past week with a stomach bug.

Warren insists that the 30-year-old Hatton is not up to fighting Khan, who captured the WBA light-welterweight title by unanimous decision against Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday.

Victor Ortiz's mother abandoned him at the age of 7. Five years later, his father left, too. So, it's surprising to hear the 22-year-old light welterweight boxing star say that his life is still "hell."

"When you're champion, everyone wants to take it from you," Ortiz told FanHouse recently." So, you have to put yourself physically and mentally through hell to keep what you have already."

LAS VEGAS -- Amir Khan stood sheepishly Friday in a back corner of the crowded stage as we all awaited Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton to weigh-in. His shyness was understood when his name was called to say a few things about the upcoming fight.

"Traitor," some of the sauced Brits screamed from the bleachers. "F-off, Khan," a trio of Brits screamed.

If there is a more loathed man among Brits this week than Khan, who, oddly enough, was born amongst them in Manchester, England, I don't know who it would be. He may as well be Salman Rushdie in Mecca.

As the great boxing trainer Freddie Roach gets Manny Pacquiao prepared for his fight on December 6 against Oscar De La Hoya, he has an interesting incentive for Pacquiao's sparring partners: Knock him down and get some cold, hard cash.

"I don't hire sparring partners, I hire real fighters -- contenders who can really push Manny," Roach said on HBO's 24/7 show. "Sparring in my gym is not play. ... It's pretty much a fight, the only rule is if you hurt somebody you don't finish them. ... Sparring partners have a job to do, and the thing is, if they knock Manny down, they get a $1,000 bonus."

Roach says his biggest concern heading into the fight is De La Hoya's jab, so that's what the sparring partners are working. So far, none of Pacquiao's sparring partners (including Amir Khan) have been able to collect that $1,000 bonus. But with cash on the line, you can bet they're trying.

MORE PACQUIAO:
Manny Pacquiao Watched Ricky Hatton, Says 'I'm Just Focused on De La Hoya'
Lennox Lewis Wants to See Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton
Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao Will Make Oscar De La Hoya Lose Control
Ricky Hatton Wants to Fight Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya Winner
It's Official: Manny Pacquiao Is Bigger Than Oscar De La Hoya

We're less than 12 hours removed from Manny Pacquiao's knockout of David Diaz, and already the question must be asked: Who does Pacquiao fight next? Here are a few possibilities:

Nate Campbell: This would be an excellent fight, with the winner potentially unifying the lightweight title belts of all four sanctioning bodies.

Edwin Valero: Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, says Pacquiao will stay at lightweight to defend the WBC title he won last night, and Valero is the one name he mentioned as a possible opponent.

Joel Casamayor: The Ring Magazine lightweight champ faces Juan Manuel Marquez in September; if he wins he'd be a natural opponent for Pacquiao, but probably not until early next year.

Humberto Soto: On last night's undercard, Soto lost a dubious disqualification after dominating Francisco Lorenzo.

Amir Khan: Has been discussed as a possible opponent, but probably isn't ready for Pacquiao.

Ricky Hatton: It would be a huge fight, if Pacquiao is willing to move up in weight class again. This won't happen in 2008 but could happen in 2009.