lurkyshaka wrote:
No...but the Khan who fought Limond was recklessly aggressive and of course nearly came a cropper. And indeed f he went steaming into Kotelnik in the same reckless manner he used against Limond, then Kotelnik's chances are raised significantly.
But lessons have been learnt under the guidance of Roach and Khan simply won't fight Kotelnik in such reckless fashion. He will be using fast hands, movement, and keeping Kotelnik's connects to a minimum. The Khan of today is a far smarter and more cagey fighter than the relative novice who paid the price for earlier career errors.
For that reason, we'll see him using his ability, speed and hugely improved defense, to make this upcoming fight against a decent beltholder appear routine.
Do you know something we don't? Are you part of Khans training camp or something? How exactly do you know for sure how much Khan has learned under Roach? I'm not having a dig I'm just genuinely interested in your extreme confidence in Khan's new found ability if you're basing it on the Fagan and Barrera fights.
The Barrera debate has been done to death but all we learned from that fight is Khan has excellent hand speed and is a very good attacking fighter. Particularly when there is little or nothing coming in return. But we already knew that didn't we?
For me, Khan has always looked devastating until someone ruffles his feathers. If he can offload with his fast combinations all night then it's all good but as soon as someone alters the script, Khan has always seemed to panic. Since the Prescott fiasco, Khan has not been in a fighting situation where his gameplan has been tested. Not one tiny amount. He's boxed 6 full rounds and 2 half rounds against (slightly) moving targets.
Now don't get me wrong, if you're right in what you say then fine, I'm just interested in what you base it on. Freddie Roach is an excellent trainer but once the bell goes, Khan has to put those lessons into effect.
Whatever your opinions on Kotelnik, he's a class and weight above anything Khan has previously faced(Barrera 09 included). Styles do make fights but by that token Witter should have breezed past Kotelnik, Maidana should have chinned him in 2 rounds and Rees should have had him chasing shadows. Boxing is not always so black and white.
I think Khan will dominate the first half of the fight but Kotelnik will patiently plug away, slowly figuring Khan out and starting to apply more pressure as the fight goes on, taking Khan out of his rhythm and beginning to get through.
What happens next all depends on just how well Khan has developed under Roach. The true test, not the farcical Barrera circus or the tough but very limited Fagan.
If he can keep his cool, remain composed and continue to outbox Kotelnik under pressure, then good stuff. If he does the rabbit in the headlights act and panics, then I'm sure Kotelnik has the tools to wrap up the job. Whether that be landing enough to force the ref to stop it or getting enough points in the second half via a knockdown or two to get the decision.