KHAN - YOUR VERDICT?

[Deserter]

If he can get dropped by super featherweights god bless him when he takes a shot of a light welterweight when he moves up.

Doesn't work that way though does it fella, which is why I referenced De La Hoya. He was dropped by the likes of the Italian Super Feather Campalla (not sure that the spelling's right there, but you know who I mean), but when he moved up showed fantastic whiskers against fearsome bigger punchers like Trinidad..

bit of a difference between de la hoya and kahn.

As boxers yes, but that's completely irrelevent to the point I'm making regarding some boxers who move up in weight and subsequently find their punch resistence actually improves as they're fighting at a more 'natural' weight. Manny Pac is another example - from memory he was KO'ed as a Flyweight but hasn't come close since then. It's been true for some fighters whether they're area title level or world class.

[Rob Magic]

you never know maybe he will develop a solid chin just like audley

[Asterix]

As boxers yes, but that's completely irrelevent to the point I'm making regarding some boxers who move up in weight and subsequently find their punch resistence actually improves as they're fighting at a more 'natural' weight. Manny Pac is another example - from memory he was KO'ed as a Flyweight but hasn't come close since then. It's been true for some fighters whether they're area title level or world class.

Miguel Cotto is another.

[stujones]

Khan announced in the interview before the fight that his body fat has reduced from 16% to 1.5% in the past year. Assuming those figures are accurate (and I'm not convinced), his body fat percentage is so low it's actually unhealthy/dangerous. I'm sure there are some on here such as Stu Jones who are more knowledgable re. sports science, but I've read on a number of occasions that anything below 5% is unhealthy.

Absolutely... my mate has a body fat of 4% (no B/S I measured it) and he is fine, but nutritionilst are amazed at that.

There is NO WAY Khan had 16% Body Fat last year... unless it was a time he wasn't in training (and still I would doubt it). 16% is around an average persons Body Fat... Khan was hardly built like the average Joe Bloggs last year.

There is no way he is 1.5% - if he is, then his opponents MUST go for that body.

[Rob Magic]

As boxers yes, but that's completely irrelevent to the point I'm making regarding some boxers who move up in weight and subsequently find their punch resistence actually improves as they're fighting at a more 'natural' weight. Manny Pac is another example - from memory he was KO'ed as a Flyweight but hasn't come close since then. It's been true for some fighters whether they're area title level or world class.[/quote]

maybe one day we will find out

[Deserter]

It's being a bit optimistic to expect Khan to "develop" the iron chin that De La Hoya has, just because the Golden Boy had a similar experience on paper.

Kilburn, see my last post - it's nothing to do with their respective talents or experience, but all to do with medical fact, which is that fighters who are boxing in a weight-drained state are clearly more susceptible in terms of punch resistance.
I have to emphasise that I'm not saying this is DEFINITELY the reason why Khan has been put down twice, it may well be the case that he is chinny, but what I'm saying is that at this stage, it's impossible for anyone to say conclusively either way.
I remember people saying De La Hoya was chinny after Campella dropped him, but he proved it was down to the weight, and it might well be the case here. We simply don't know.

[banjo]

I liked his 'Khanisms'

"World class fighter like Michael Gomez"

"It was a blink knockdown" I think he means flash knockdown

[Deserter]

Miguel Cotto is another.

Yep, good call fella, as he looks so much more robust at Welter than he did at Light Welter. And Rob, you're right, only time will tell.

[Rob Magic]

It's being a bit optimistic to expect Khan to "develop" the iron chin that De La Hoya has, just because the Golden Boy had a similar experience on paper.

Kilburn, see my last post - it's nothing to do with their respective talents or experience, but all to do with medical fact, which is that fighters who are boxing in a weight-drained state are clearly more susceptible in terms of punch resistance.
I have to emphasise that I'm not saying this is DEFINITELY the reason why Khan has been put down twice, it may well be the case that he is chinny, but what I'm saying is that at this stage, it's impossible for anyone to say conclusively either way.
I remember people saying De La Hoya was chinny after Campella dropped him, but he proved it was down to the weight, and it might well be the case here. We simply don't know.

You might find its the first thing people think when a lighter boxer can knock you down you automatically think what damage a heavier boxer will do, its the first thing i thought thats why i posted it. Maybe you are 100% right it might have something to do with weight issue's only time will tell.

[Kilburn]

These cases are surely the exception rather than the norm. Like I said, very optimistic if you ask me.

[Chaddy Hammer]

I have no doubt Khan will win a world title against a faded champion then move up as to avoid anyone with any class.As for a fight against hatton allegedly knows he will get destroyed so this will not happen.

[Twinkle Toes]

It's a possibility that Khan might improve his whiskers as he moves up the weights, but rather than make a case for Khan's chin on possibilities we have to base it on the facts we have seen with our own eyes.

Khan has been down three times (or is it 4) and each time it hasn't been what I would call a true power shot - That wasn't anything special that put Khan over tonight - Personally, I don't buy into the weight drained theory, Khan wouldn't be able to work like he did if he was having weight issues.

As for mentioning Cotto. It was blatantly clear to see how Cotto was affected in the ring by weight - It's not a comparison that can be made with Khan.

On a final note, Campanella was a very good puncher and a fighter who in his own right was a hot prospect - It's no surprise he knocked over Hoya, and it's not as if Hoya was over regular in his early career against domestic class opposition.

[Asterix]

Khan has been down three times (or is it 4) and each time it hasn't been what I would call a true power shot

I thought he has been down twice.

[Exoddus]

Rachid Drilzane knocked down Khan.

[banjo]

Khan has been down three times (or is it 4) and each time it hasn't been what I would call a true power shot

I thought he has been down twice.

Correct, only Limond and Gomez have floored him

[SexySouthPaw]

I suppose so. Gomez is certainly about the level of Jonathan Thaxton (comparatively speaking) and Hatton demolished him.

Hatton bt Thaxton 117-113 that makes it 4 rounds hardly demolished

[banjo]

Rachid Drilzane knocked down Khan.

Oh yeah

Forgot about that one

[Dioufy]

And guess what, Thaxton moved up in weight to fight Hatton as well - I hate Fwank.

[Twinkle Toes]

Rachid Drilzane knocked down Khan.

Yup and it was quickly brushed under the carpet as a slip although a punch did land :)

By the way that was in a light welterweight fight against a fighter with 0 stoppages

/whistles

[Grilling Machine]

Khan has a lot of power, but his technique is usually awful. I think this is due to his fear of being caught; he doesn't want to commit, so won't plant his feet fully. Fighting shorter guys allows him to flurry outside of their range. It's a bad habit, clearly.

I don't believe moving up in weight would help his chin either, because his mind is the weak link. He panics when stunned, making himself incredibly vulnerable to a sustained follow-up. He seems to take a shot okay but not cope with the confidence it gives his opponent.

Without this immobilising reaction to aggression and potential failure, he's every bit a world-class champion.

As for body fat: I'd guess about 5%. He was never up at 16; I'm a little taller but the same build, and I'm nearly 15% at 145. He can't afford to maintain this weight for more than another 18 months, in my opinion.

[Exoddus]

Yup and it was quickly brushed under the carpet as a slip although a punch did land

The ref gave Khan a count for it. So it was a knock down.

[Grilling Machine]

Amir should've stayed down for a moment to guarantee that count.

[m1kee50]

Did anyone else think it was a touch early by the ref? Khan had landed similar flurries in other rounds and the fight had not been stopped... I think the ref could have give it a bit longer to see if Gomez rallied again but at the end of it all I will always take a ref stopping it early over stopping it too late.

[Grilling Machine]

It's a recurring theme in Khan fights. Had it been someone else I'd have probably thought it was entirely appropriate (see Pryce vs. Portman). It was within the realms of reasonable though, I'd say.

[josh fg]

And guess what, Thaxton moved up in weight to fight Hatton as well - I hate Fwank.

I think that was brilliant match making from Warren, he gave a young developing fighter a fight against someone who gave him a hard time tought him a lot and had him in trouble. The best thing about it was that it demonstrated to Khan he wasn't ready for a world title shot.

What do you want him to do put him in against someone who'll beat him.

In terms of his performance as I said on another post he sometimes fights like a guy who only has one idea, run in and hit him and if the other guy is still standing he's a bit unsure what to do. He needs to have harder fights so he can develop that as Haye learned with Mock and Thompson and Froch learned with Charles Adamu I think in truth he should have had this fight a little earlier but you can't have everything. He showed terrific hart in the way came back from the crack to the ribs which hurt him in round 4 and that seemed to show he had another gear to move up to.

He's been pro for 3 years, he could show more maturaty and he needs to tighten up his defence but he has athleticism and some power... don't be so hard on him.