Making a case for Amir Khan to a United States jury is not easy.
Every one of the American broadcasters and writers convened here predicts overwhelming victory for world welterweight champion Terence Crawford, by anything from a quick KO to a points decision as wide as Broadway.
For this they find themselves chastised by legendary promoter Bob Arum, who says: 'Anyone who thinks this is a walkover for Crawford is a moron who knows nothing about boxing.'
Amir Khan (right) fights America's Terrence Crawford at Madison Square Garden on Saturday
Time, before the first bell rings in the hallowed Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, to bring a little British perspective to the deliberations.
In his own defence, Khan says: 'Crawford has been put on a pedestal as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world without having to prove it. Yes, he is unbeaten, but while I have fought the best out there he has no one on his resume to compare with some of my opponents.
'Yes, he is a very good fighter but I've seen flaws in him which I can exploit. I don't know about everyone else but I know I can beat Bud Crawford.'
The bookies disagree. Some to the extraordinary extent of quoting Khan as a 30-1 outsider, while Arum for one will not be backing his boxer to the tune of 40 bucks to win one dollar. He says: 'Crawford is rightly a marginal favourite as the undefeated champion but these odds are ridiculous.'
Khan weighs in: 'This is a 50-50 fight, although I think perhaps it should lean towards me. I'm the naturally bigger fighter this time, unlike when I went up two divisions and got knocked out by Canelo Alvarez.
'Crawford's team have only given me this chance because they think I'm over the hill at 32. But he's no spring chicken either. Only a year younger. And he's never fought anyone as fast and skilful as me.'
Crawford says: 'I respect what Khan did when he became a two-time light-welter champion but that was a while ago. I also recognise he's unbeaten at welterweight. But I'm still waiting to be given my full respect for being the best boxer in the world. So I'm the hungry fighter here.'
'Me too,' says Khan. 'This is for my legacy. He's a three-division world champion but I'm hungry to be a three-time champion. Maybe I've not looked so good lately but I'm always at my best for the big fights. And they come no bigger than this.
'I'm topping the bill in the Mecca of world boxing against someone considered to be a great champion. I'm up in lights in Times Square and I've rung the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. I'm starring in the show which is bringing big-time boxing back to its traditional home here in America.
'This is history in the making and my family are here to see me make it. I like them to wave me off to the arena.
