Khan A Free Agent?

[Asterix]

what are the chances that Khan will be fighting Salita on the Pacman/Cotto undercard ?

Whoever is promoting Khan should get that set up if they haven't already. Easy win for Khan and very good exposure.

[Asterix]

Did anyone else notice, in Amir's post-fight interview at ringside, with Frank just 2-3 yards away and looking on, Amir thanked everybody EXCEPT Frank ! His trainers, the Wild Card gym, his parents, everybody EXCEPT Frank, who was literally stood in front (and to the side) of him. Maybe it was just an oversight in the heat of the moment, which would be understandable, or maybe it belies behind the scenes issues ?

I noticed that as well. I was waiting for him to thank Warren.

[sweetscience]

Did anyone else notice, in Amir's post-fight interview at ringside, with Frank just 2-3 yards away and looking on, Amir thanked everybody EXCEPT Frank ! His trainers, the Wild Card gym, his parents, everybody EXCEPT Frank, who was literally stood in front (and to the side) of him. Maybe it was just an oversight in the heat of the moment, which would be understandable, or maybe it belies behind the scenes issues ?

I noticed that as well. I was waiting for him to thank Warren.

he did... for getting him the fight

its on FWTV.. a ten minute interview

[BigGar]

Yep...he's not as popular as he should be. I mean most of the Brits booed him at the Pacquiao v Hatton weigh in.

Still, I think he'd be mad to change promoters.

[MightyWarrior]

On the other hand, and I will say it again, Khan isn't anywhere near the star he should be.

Well getting splattered inside a round on PPV, less than 9 months ago, probably had something to do with that don't you think?

Feel bad for FW, for once, if Amir does up and leave. Bringing him back from the dead like that was an absolutely masterful bit of matchmaking. Plenty of people thought both Barrera and Kotelnik would do him, so full credit to FW for pulling off those two masterstrokes. And Khan and Roach of course.

[alexpaterson]

He should stay with Warren he has done so much for him and will get him good fights and make him a lot of money FW has done a brilliant job with him

[Goz]

I think setting Khan up with Roach was pretty shrewd, those patting Fwank on the back for his post-Prescott matchmaking need to bear in mind it was he who matched Khan with Prescott in the first place.

[MightyWarrior]

I think setting Khan up with Roach was pretty shrewd, those patting Fwank on the back for his post-Prescott matchmaking need to bear in mind it was he who matched Khan with Prescott in the first place.

Sure, but you have to take a few calculated risks as a promoter every now and then, that's what the fighter, and the fans want.
FW was in a tricky place there - with Sky insisting on a dangerous looking opponent, and Khan and his new highly thought of trainer both pushing for the fight, Frank would have undermined Amir's ( and everyone else's ) confidence by saying no, you're not ready for this guy, a guy who's beaten NO ONE. He had to roll the dice.
And the biggest mistake of all was Amir walking in with his chin in the air. Based on last weekend's performances by both fighters, Khan really should have beaten Prescott.

[Goz]

Good points MW.

If the weekend did have one dissapointment for Khan it would be that he didn't get Prescott back in the ring sooner.

[Asterix]

On the other hand, and I will say it again, Khan isn't anywhere near the star he should be.

Well getting splattered inside a round on PPV, less than 9 months ago, probably had something to do with that don't you think?

Feel bad for FW, for once, if Amir does up and leave. Bringing him back from the dead like that was an absolutely masterful bit of matchmaking. Plenty of people thought both Barrera and Kotelnik would do him, so full credit to FW for pulling off those two masterstrokes. And Khan and Roach of course.

Dean Powell is the match maker.

[MightyWarrior]

Dean Powell is the match maker.

Maybe that's his title, among other things, but you can be sure Frank has the final say.

[tonyevs]

Its a bit of a no-brainer at the moment. He neeeds to stay with Warren untill he is better established. Being a world champion means little in this day and age .. its very much the fighter not the belt that makes the difference.

If he hangs onto his belt long enough, then I do see him moving on from Warren .. pretty sure Roach will guide him towards big fights in the belief he has another Pacman

[dbf]

W arren has done an unbelievable job for that lad.

Whilst I agree that Warren has done a great job, he was lucky that the Prescott fight happended after he had signed a 4 fight Sky PPV deal (that had to cuilminate in a title shot- at least that's what I remember).

If Prescott was the last fight of the ITV contract, sky wouldn't have touched him, or at least paid very little for him, which may have led to Amir leaving. Frank pulled it out of the bag though, with Barrera and Kotelnik.

[Autobarn]

But didn't Sky ask for a dangerous opponent with a good record, in order to justify putting it on PPV?

Anyway, demanding £15 PPV just so we can see Khan fight Prescott and Fagan - 2 opponents most of us had likely never heard of - isn't exactly brilliant. I haven't really seen an honest, up front, question-answering, good value Khan fight - until Kotelnik. I mean who had heard of Prescott, a Colombian with a Scottish name . It just seemed to add to the feeling that we were all having some kind of joke played on us.

When you look at the fights through Limond and Gomez, you look at the chances Khan was taking in there and it actually looked like he'd been led up the garden path re his abilities. He was so reckless and was taking chances, taking dangerous shots and getting hurt by them. It's like the penny hadn't dropped. Unless it was because he hadn't learned to settle down, in the pros, yet.


American boxing will love a Khan, need a Khan. An Olympic medal is badge of approval in the pros. An Olympic medal and a world title = dynamite. HBO, Ring mag bent over backwards to hype up Victor Ortiz as the next "Golden Boy." In fact Ring are probably still managing to sneak Ortiz's name into articles on other fighters, despite being totally battered in disastrous step up fight. While Khan doesn't have much of a media personality, the contrast between his down to earth persona, and the flair he has (speed, movement) in the ring, and of course his achievements on the world scene as ama and pro, all combine make him a clear commodity.

It does seem once they've made the big time, that the big names leave Warren. So it's natural that ppl are speculating. I think it would be foolish to turn his back on Britain, even though the HBO money will be tempting. Surely he was tempted out of the amas by the money, and the really big money in America will be a temptation. At some point, when older, will he want to become a promoter, with HBO's help, and cut out the middlemen (Lewis, Naz, Calzaghe)? But hopefulyl he doesn't get ahead of himself and sign with someone that doesn't have proven track record developing young fighters (GBP). How about alternating fights in Britain and America? Surely there isn't a better candidate that FW to do this.

Imagine if he went with Bob Arum. If in doubt, put him on Chavez Jr undercard (this is what he tried to do with Gamboa).

[Spud]

If he leaves Warren now he's an idiot.

Never thought I would say this but you are correct!!!