Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images-Golden Boy Promotions

Throughout the decades a small cluster of legendary champions were deemed so formidable that they could only be beaten by themselves. While Britain’s Amir Khan is hardly cut from that cloth, the laser-fisted welterweight will face off against a virtual mirror image in Devon Alexander this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Khan, 28, is almost identical to the American in terms of age, height and reach. Like Alexander, he also became a world title holder at junior welterweight before moving on to 147 pounds. Both fighters also have the same endgame, which is to expel the other to the bottom of the welterweight food chain and move towards elite level.

In May, “King Khan” sparkled in a virtuoso display against former WBA welterweight titleholder Luis Collazo, whom he soundly defeated by unanimous decision. It was arguably a career-best performance and certainly his finest showing since hooking up with Oakland, California, based trainer Virgil Hunter.

“I was pleased with the Collazo performance because it proved that all the work I’ve been doing with Virgil is paying off. I’m definitely moving in the right direction and on Saturday night I hope to show that I’ve moved up another level,” said Khan, who defected from Freddie Roach to Hunter in 2012.

“Devon Alexander is a good, technically sound boxer with speed of his own and he definitely has strengths that I need to be wary of. At the same time I’m not going to let him dictate the fight. I’ll be asking questions of him.”

Khan, THE RING’s No. 9-rated welterweight, has not encountered the sum of Alexander’s parts since he fought another quick-handed lefty by the name of Zab Judah, in July, 2011. Many felt the Brooklyn native could match Khan in key areas but he was dominated and knocked out in five rounds. Judah was quick, Khan was quicker. Judah was sharp, Khan was sharper.

Alexander is younger, and significantly fresher, than Judah was then but Khan still expects to hold all the aces in Las Vegas.

“My speed and movement will be big factors against Devon,” said the 2004 Olympic silver medalist. “Also, my knowledge of when to use my speed, or throw certain combinations, will be telling in this fight. I’m improving every day and I aim to show that improvement against Alexander.

“I’ll be fully prepared for whatever he brings. My aim is to look slick and win this fight in good fashion.”

Khan is often criticized for looking beyond the task at hand and karma has been a bitter enemy in recent years. He targeted Floyd Mayweather prior to facing Lamont Peterson in 2011 but a controversial split-decision loss derailed those plans. Seven months later Khan was still reveling in the mega-fight sweepstakes before suffering a brutal fourth-round stoppage defeat at the hands of Danny Garcia.

The road back has been arduous but it is clear that past experiences and maturity have changed Khan (29-3, 19 knockouts), who now approaches these conversations with an air of caution and humility.

Khan said, “Both Mayweather and Pacquiao are great fighters and have my full respect. Maybe there are flaws, in both of them, which weren’t there a few years ago, but they’re still at the top. I don’t know if they’ll ever fight each other, because it’s been talked about for so long, but you never know in boxing.

“I would like to fight Kell Brook in the future and that one can definitely happen. I want the big fights but first I have to win on Saturday. This division is thriving at the moment and I’m just pleased to be part of it. This weekend I have the chance to prove that I belong at the top, among some great fighters.”

Amir Khan vs. Devon Alexander will be shown live in the US on Saturday at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on SHOWTIME. British fans can see all the action via Sky Sports 1 HD from 2.00am on Sunday morning.

Tom Gray is a member of the British Boxing Writers’ Association and has contributed to various publications. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing