Bring on Thaxton!!

terminator · Post by **terminator** » 15 Jan 2008, 18:54

Amir Khan: "After St Clair, Bring on Jon Thaxton"

By Mark Vester

Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan (15-0, 12KOs) wants UK rival Jon Thaxton to keep one thing in mind - he's next on the hit list. Khan tells Setanta Sports that Thaxton is next after he disposes of Gary St Clair on February 2.

Khan and Thaxton were close to potential fight, but promoter allegedly claims Thaxton’s handlers turned down a career-high offer and countered with an even higher demand which caused the fight to fall apart.

“I’ve heard it all before. Most of my opponents have said they’re going to surprise me and that they’re going to beat me but John Thaxton’s just another guy who wants a big payday,” Khan said. ”I’m the best guy you can fight. I’m the biggest payday he could possible get in his whole boxing career and I’m going to give him the chance to get that payday. I’ll fight him. As soon as I beat St Clair, I’ll go back and fight Thaxton just to make things clear."

Khan knows that other opponents are out there, but he doesn't want people to say he avoided Thaxton by taking another fight. For the last few weeks, Thaxton has launched a media blitz by calling Khan out on a weekly basis in the press. The consistent trash talk has paid off.

”I never want to go on and have people later in my career saying, ‘there’s a guy that you didn’t fight – because you were scared’. I’m not scared of any opponent and I’m getting better all the time. In fact, the more I leave it the better I’ll be and the easier that fight against Thaxton will be. He is a good fighter but he’s on the way out,” Khan said.

Even if he wins, Khan knows most critics will not give him credit for beating Thaxton. But he wants to give the British boxing fans what they want by taking the fight.

“I’ll beat him, and whether I knock him out in the first round or the last round, people will say, ‘John Thaxton’s past it and he was only there for that payday’. But I’ll give him that chance just to let him see what he can do against Amir Khan. And I know that’ll be another good win for my career and it could be for the British title. We can put my Commonwealth title on the line, too, and it will be a good fight," Khan said.

“It’s a fight that the British people want to see. It’ll be a sell-out no matter what, because people want to see that fight. And I will beat him.”

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 15 Jan 2008, 19:26

Good talk lets hope it happens. I think he genuinly wants the fight, not sure Warren does and this is the first I have heard of this allagation that Thaxton turned down a big offer.

I would be happy with Thaxton or Romanov next hope he gets one or both and a world shot befor the go up for negotiation with ITV again though I hope the fact the interview was given to Setanta isn't significant.

whicker · Post by **whicker** » 15 Jan 2008, 20:11

Good to hear! However, it is a bit sad that Khan doesn't even seem to consider the concept that he should fight Thaxton because he is British Champion.

states · Post by **states** » 15 Jan 2008, 20:47

Tis the sad consequence of the modern game, Whicker.

A fight that should be for the British title is more likely to happen as a defense of a 'World' title.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 16 Jan 2008, 03:00

whicker wrote:Good to hear! However, it is a bit sad that Khan doesn't even seem to consider the concept that he should fight Thaxton because he is British Champion.

Hear, hear. It's the only decent title left in boxing.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 Jan 2008, 03:04

I'd like to see Khan win a Lonsdale outright if he beats Thaxton. Let's be honest they could get it done in 3 months if he fought every 4 weeks and he could easily at that level.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 16 Jan 2008, 04:31

nickd wrote:I'd like to see Khan win a Lonsdale outright if he beats Thaxton.

Look, a flying pig!

Khan will fight Thaxton and then eff off on the WBO trail against Cherry, Campbell or Katsidis.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 16 Jan 2008, 05:41

Fair play to ya Amir. Respect for ginving the fans what they want

Khan tells Setanta Sports that Thaxton is next after he disposes of Gary St Clair on February 2

hmmm, why is he not telling ITV?

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 16 Jan 2008, 09:09

Chambers2 wrote:Fair play to ya Amir. Respect for ginving the fans what they want

Khan tells Setanta Sports that Thaxton is next after he disposes of Gary St Clair on February 2
hmmm, why is he not telling ITV?

Maybe because ITV are dropping him?

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 16 Jan 2008, 09:13

Chambers2 wrote:Fair play to ya Amir. Respect for ginving the fans what they want

Khan tells Setanta Sports that Thaxton is next after he disposes of Gary St Clair on February 2
hmmm, why is he not telling ITV?

Think the contract is up in June dude.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 16 Jan 2008, 10:46

Ta, I didn't realise Khan was getting the boot

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 16 Jan 2008, 11:20

Chambers2 wrote:Ta, I didn't realise Khan was getting the boot

Don't think it's set in stone that he is, but the ITV comments this week don't look good.

Could all be a masterplan for ITV to reduce the amount to FW for the renewal, but I don't think that'll work.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 16 Jan 2008, 11:33

its not that Khan is getting the Boot. There are not many Solid Boxers avaiable to ITV to make a lot of Money. Only Khan is the Main One, and ITV can;t afford to rely on.

Anyway, like i said earlier, after Khans little Mission to be younges Champ etc. Im pretty sure Thaxton and other serious contendors will be fighting

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 16 Jan 2008, 19:47

I feel ITV have had enough, I hope I am wrong but maybe negotiations with FW havent been too successful - I can envisage Khan fighting on Setanta later this year.