Khan v Kotelnik - WBA l-welter agreed for June 27

[BABY BLUE]

Agree Baby Blue.... Imagine if Joe Calzaghe says - "okay, I'll comeback to fight Froch" - will people say "Froch thinks he is the worst champion in the world, what an idiot if he loses".

yeah i guess its prob khans mangemnt that told him to say that. the same way khan said he could beat pacman and hatton. he does talk half out his ass somtimes. if khan looses he will eat his own words. the belt his figthing for is what rubbish.? its what he said.his oppnant as well. i bet he will say now that his opponant is the best thing since a slice of bread.
if he looses then its over for khan big time. look for day job. like roach puts it.

[bennie]

Good match. Kotelnik is a punch-picker - technically excellent - but not a huge puncher, and Khan could outwork him.

[BABY BLUE]

Good match. Kotelnik is a punch-picker - technically excellent - but not a huge puncher, and Khan could outwork him.

yeah prob win by points.

[Counter-puncher]

I would actually give Khan a chance to win this one...

Actually, nah. Kotelnik hits harder than Limond, has a tight defence and great chin. He's just going to stick around for the whole fight and wait for Khan to gas. I would give Khan a better chance of beating Kotelnik than Diaz just because Diaz would throw more. But Kotelnik is so sound he is going to land a few on Khan, and while not a huge hitter at light welter, has the extra weight to rival anyone who was capable of blowing Khan out down at lightweight.

Kotelnik KO 7.

agree pretty much 100% especially the last bit. maybe Khan will go 9 or 10 but i just can't see him going 12. agree with you too Riddick Blowe

for Khan to outwork Andreas he'll be putting himself in range often enough to allow Kotelnik's excellent punch-picking ability to come through.

Kotelnik has superior chin, boxing brain, experience, and defence than Khan's. Khan's edge is in handspeed and the size of his frame but if you add them to a ten year old's boxing IQ and a 12 year old's chin it doesn't match well with Kotelnik's upside, IMO.

I can see Kotelnik frsutrating him for the early going, letting him bounce punches off that double guard- which, by the way, see how much trouble Khan had getting anything through St Clair's guard or even to a lesser extent the Danish fella- and picking shots. at some point either Khan will gas or more likely get put on the backfoot by a counter. then Kotelnik gradually works him to the point where Khan's chin (or liver) gives way.

also bennie also whilst Kotelnik might not seem to have much of a punch or blazing handspeed, he's got 'just enough' of both. he certainly hits harder than Willie Limond, and is a darn sight better boxer than Prescott

Kotelnik is also a good, subtle bodypuncher, with the left especially, he nearly bent Adbullaev in two with one right at the end of a round i think the 9th or so. Khan better not linger on the inside here, where many of his offensive advantages are negated, and his defensive liabilites, not to mention lapses in concentration, are magnified. khan will need to be able to move for the whole 12 rounds because every time he misses or bounces 2 or 3 off the guard, he's going to get clipped by quick accurate shots

I, too, am very confident Kotelnik wins. kindof a shame as, as forums go, I'm something of a Khan fan, as much as such a thing exists.

[bennie]

I would actually give Khan a chance to win this one...

Actually, nah. Kotelnik hits harder than Limond, has a tight defence and great chin. He's just going to stick around for the whole fight and wait for Khan to gas. I would give Khan a better chance of beating Kotelnik than Diaz just because Diaz would throw more. But Kotelnik is so sound he is going to land a few on Khan, and while not a huge hitter at light welter, has the extra weight to rival anyone who was capable of blowing Khan out down at lightweight.

Kotelnik KO 7.

agree pretty much 100% especially the last bit. maybe Khan will go 9 or 10 but i just can't see him going 12. agree with you too Riddick Blowe

for Khan to outwork Andreas he'll be putting himself in range often enough to allow Kotelnik's excellent punch-picking ability to come through.

Kotelnik has superior chin, boxing brain, experience, and defence than Khan's. Khan's edge is in handspeed and the size of his frame but if you add them to a ten year old's boxing IQ and a 12 year old's chin it doesn't match well with Kotelnik's upside, IMO.

I can see Kotelnik frsutrating him for the early going, letting him bounce punches off that double guard- which, by the way, see how much trouble Khan had getting anything through St Clair's guard or even to a lesser extent the Danish fella- and picking shots. at some point either Khan will gas or more likely get put on the backfoot by a counter. then Kotelnik gradually works him to the point where Khan's chin (or liver) gives way.

also bennie also whilst Kotelnik might not seem to have much of a punch or blazing handspeed, he's got 'just enough' of both. he certainly hits harder than Willie Limond, and is a darn sight better boxer than Prescott

Kotelnik is also a good, subtle bodypuncher, with the left especially, he nearly bent Adbullaev in two with one right at the end of a round i think the 9th or so. Khan better not linger on the inside here, where many of his offensive advantages are negated, and his defensive liabilites, not to mention lapses in concentration, are magnified. khan will need to be able to move for the whole 12 rounds because every time he misses or bounces 2 or 3 off the guard, he's going to get clipped by quick accurate shots

I, too, am very confident Kotelnik wins. kindof a shame as, as forums go, I'm something of a Khan fan, as much as such a thing exists.

Great post, Counter-puncher. This is a 'proper' fight, a real fight.

[Counter-puncher]

thanks mate, i've been watchin Kotelnik for a while. he's 'paid his dues', been robbed at least once or twice along the way. I often like these solid 'unspectacular' guys- Bradley is maybe another one though he's got more pure physical talent than Kotelnik i think- somewhat of an 'overachiever' through skill and brains and willpower.

seriously though, match Kotelnik's skill, patience, brains, defence, against Khan's chin, concentration, and defence. match khan's offensive skill with kotelnik's defence- which revolves around fast hands that don't do much to a good tight defence- i often sit on the fence with picks but I'm pretty sure of this one.

[dondada]

Agree Baby Blue.... Imagine if Joe Calzaghe says - "okay, I'll comeback to fight Froch" - will people say "Froch thinks he is the worst champion in the world, what an idiot if he loses".

I saw the show when he said it. Froch was actually laughing when he said it - it was obviously a joke.

I honestly don't think Khan's was. You're giving him too much credit. Khan thinks he's shite.

Now he's saying he's always been impressed by him. If it was some kind of PR strategy, why isn't he being consistent?

Should be an interesting fight nevertheless. Anyone who won't fold will always be a problem for Khan.

[rhino222]

i think kotelnik is too well schooled, and may well make khan go to sleep if he catches his after about 5 rounds. kotelnik is a decent operator, and kotelnik will not fear khan.

[Twinkle Toes]

Yeah, exactly what Ian says.

Khan wasn't joking around when he said it, in fact it took him a good few seconds to engage his brain and think of someone.

The fact he said Kotelnik now makes him look a right tit - I'd expect terminator to say 'oh he was only joking' because he's as biased as they come when it comes to Khan, but others are dropping in my estimation quickly...ahem Stu.

By the way, Khan is too good for Kotelink in my opinion, and should win with a comfortable points decision. D

[Autobarn]

Hopefully Kotelnik can rid us all of this sky box office sh*te.

Imagine, Hatton vs Pacman, or Khan vs kotelnik... both the same price... hmmm.

amen to that.

perhaps Khan had to do something big to justify another PPV. maybe he has to do something like this to keep getting the money he's on.

I think it's a smart fight for Kotelnik to take. Big name, can be hurt. Could be a good fight with Khan starting fast, Kotelnik getting into it and picking good shots up and downstairs.

I reckon win or lose Khan has some rough moments. Whatever the result, Khan will be in a real fight, vs someone who isn't going to be flustered, who can go 12 hard rds. Khan will certainly realise that Kotelnik isn't "awful", as Max puts it.

[Counter-puncher]

i have to worry about the boxing knowledge of anyone who calls Kotelnik awful, 'barn

if Kotelnik wins, what odds they try to get him in with Bradley for a super-unifier?

[metropol]

I like the confidence he is showing , i wouldn't mind it being at light welter he was going to move up at one stage or another.

[failedairman]

how does someone who isn't in WBA lightweight top15 as at 9th March suddenly get world title shot at LWW a month later! This is another piss-take by WBA, we all know boxing is about money and politics but this ruins the credibility of the sport even more. I like Khan and believe this is his natural weight but getting an instant title shot is well out of order.

[crusader]

This is a winnable albeit tough fight for Khan. Kotelnik isnt a big puncher and can be overly passive, but he can take a good shot and has the best technique at 140. Khan just better hope Victor Ortiz isn't his mandatory

[The_Don1]

Should be a stiff test for Khan, as noted by people already Kotelnik is textbook, 50-50 fight to me.

In any case this is a turn up for the books as Warren has managed to secure a non-WBO world title fight for one of his boxers for the first time in ages!

[sweetscience]

tough tough fight, i can see khan gettin muscled out to lose a close one

[whiteboy]

frustrating that khan moves up immediately after the long awaited breakthrough 'win' against barrera

still, should be a good match. on the pitch at the reebok? the steepness of the stands would make this a decent venue for boxing

[black panther]

Am I the only one thinking that he's taking this fight as it's easier than the Death Row which is the Lightweight division?

x 25

But he can't keep avoiding big punchers forever. Sooner or later he'll have to face a Victor Ortiz or Marcos Maidina if he wins a "world" title. But fair play Kotelnik isn't exactly an "easy" fight, as many have said its 50/50 in my eyes. For me Khan has yet to prove himself at the highest level - beating a soft, half-blind Barrera didn't prove much to me though I will acknowledge the adjustments in his style he has made.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Can see Khan having a good chance in this one, but Kotelnik is cute and durable, if not exactly brimming with talent.

Kotelnik in some respects is tailor made as he is not that fast, nor that versatile, but he is a very good orthodox boxer with a good jab, and he will also be physical match for Khan.

This is a good even fight, neither man should be much of a favourite over the other.

[dondada]

how does someone who isn't in WBA lightweight top15 as at 9th March suddenly get world title shot at LWW a month later! This is another piss-take by WBA, we all know boxing is about money and politics but this ruins the credibility of the sport even more. I like Khan and believe this is his natural weight but getting an instant title shot is well out of order.

Because the boards are utter sacks of shite. Go and have a look at the 'Snips and Snipes' bits at the end of 'Eric Armit's World Digest' on www.britishboxing.net

Eric always comes up with some new ridiculous garbage by the boards.

They are poison.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yes it's not something which even surprises me any more - which I think is even more sad.

Once you start to see the shit that goes on with the boards ratings - you become outraged, then eventually, you become so jaded, it barely raises a billious attack any more.

At the end of the day - promoters get on the phone, and lobby the WBA, WBC, IBF or WBO, and try and make a case for their fighter. The board considers who the promoter is, and how popular the fighter is, and considers how much money it might generate them in title defences if the fighter won - and it goes on from there.

You cannot blame the promoters, it's their job to get title shots for their fighters and make them money, but you can most certainly blame the boards for being as compliant as a hooker at Donald Trump's pool party.

[dondada]

Yes it's not something which even surprises me any more - which I think is even more sad.

Once you start to see the shit that goes on with the boards ratings - you become outraged, then eventually, you become so jaded, it barely raises a billious attack any more.

Absolutely, Jim. That's the danger. The only safe, moral route to take is that they are all shite and judge individual fighters accordingly.

[gobbles]

I understand your anger here, but it's not a Ezra Sellers/Bobby Gunn interchangeable No 15 position here. The last WBA ratings I saw, Barrera was No 3 at lightweight. If Khan took that place, it is pretty reasonable for him to request that he is moving up in weight and for the WBA to grant Kotelnik a voluntary defence against him.
I mean, remember Jermain Taylor being allowed to defend the middleweight title against Spinks and (perhaps more relevantly) Ouma.

[cnnrboy5]

This will definatley be a tough a fight for khann. ive seen kotelnik a couple of times including against gavin rees and he looks very strong, however i think khann will cruise to a 12UD unless he gets caught cleanly by a big punch. Khann looked much better against barrea with a much tighter defence and thats what he has to keep up. not get cocky and drop his hands. As kotelnik will definatley be gunnig for him.

[overhand_right]

I'm amazed so few people are disgusted by this obvious steering around all the top fighters at LW and going for a weak paper champ at light-welter.

I still think it will go wrong for him, Kotelnik is solid & will work all night like he did vs Gavin Rees. Kotelnik is solid enough & durable enough to make Amir implode at some point over 12.