Why don't we see Khan in with a true world class operator - I know Paulie Malignaggi.
oh no - Exposed by Hatton.
Ricky Hatton? - oh no shot to pieces.
Exactly. So many bitching when it looked like Khan wasn't going to fight "dangerous" Maidana, now that it looks like he might, the negatives are being sought before pen has even been put to paper.
yeah you already get ppl like Overhand right slating Khan for "trying to wriggle" out of the Maidana fight
The general opinion was. if he faced mallignalli rather than maidana ... then Khan was a bottle job, who deserved no respect.
Why is it acceptable for him to fight Mallignali next just cos he has signed for GoldenBoy?
It makes little or no difference if he says Maidana is next after that ... the kid has talked an enormous load of crap anyways, so a little more isn`t gonna make any difference.
Getting shot of wazza and getting out of blighty are probably two of the best things Khan could've done for himself and his career.
People seem to forget just how young he still is, he's also essentially still rebuilding a career that was in tatters not so long ago. Who gives a toss if he chooses to fight Malignaggi before getting in there with Maidana, if Ortiz, Maidana and Khan are all under GBP's roof then in all likelihood, it'll happen sooner rather than later.
tonyevs wrote:The general opinion was. if he faced mallignalli rather than maidana ... then Khan was a bottle job, who deserved no respect.
Why is it acceptable for him to fight Mallignali next just cos he has signed for GoldenBoy?
It makes little or no difference if he says Maidana is next after that ... the kid has talked an enormous load of crap anyways, so a little more isn`t gonna make any difference.
As long as Khan fights a dangerous puncher then it's OK with me. If he's fighting Malignaggi then Maidana after, I don't think anyone should be complaining.
I honestly believe Khan will win brilliantly against Maidana, Maidana has the style that Khan will like a man walking into him he can use combo's and move I think he'll win widely on points. Boxing Maidana's head off
stujones wrote:Malignaggi is the tougher fight IMO.
What happens if Khan blows Maidana away - what would that do for the critics??
They would probably all say something along the lines of......
"Maidana was just a hype job and cant box, he has only got a big punch. Never really fought anyone that good, and he lost to Kotelnik. Malignaggi would have been a better fight...He ducked him"
If Khan was to face and beat Malignaggi, Maidana and Ortiz one after another in ANY order I would give him massive respect as a fighter. I do think he should probably face Bradley or Alexander somewhere amongst that lot though. Or they should face each other with the winner facing however comes out on top of the Khan-Malignaggi-Maidana-Ortiz bouts.
charlieb wrote: he's also essentially still rebuilding a career
He's a world champion!!
But I DO know what you mean.
It's hard to describe , but it seems like Khan "isn't quite there" yet.
Well I suppose technically he is, but really is isn't is he. He's just a belt holder. For my money you can't call yourself world champion unless you beat the best in the world, which at this moment in time is a certain Tim Bradley.
I've been critical of Khan in the past because at times it's felt as though he's avoided any fighter that posed a risk (Prescott excluded, he was an unknown quanity who Khan was supposed to easily outbox). He should have fought Thaxton when he was campaigning at domestic/Euro level, he should have fought Murray to decide who was number one in Britain- a genuine clash between two northern lads that would have been a cracker. Khan seemed to adopt a "I think I'm a better fighter so there's no point fighting them." But it doesn't work like that, and although I think Khan would have beaten a brave effort from Thaxton and edged out Murray, they were still fights I think he should have taken. Instead of glorified tune ups against smaller guys like St Clair or pastries like Kristjansen.
I also felt there was unfinished business with the Barrera fight, yes the incident was unfortunate and yes Khan probably would have won anyway, but the outcome deserved a rematch and Khan didn't do himself any favours by boasting "I've proved all my doubters wrong." That fight proved nothing.
So when the word got out that Khan didn't want Maidana, I thought here we go again. The only way I'd accept the fight not happening is if Khan fought Bradley or Alexander instead, or even a money spinner against Hatton. But I had a feeling he'd duck Maidana and opt to fight Erik Morales or someone of that "very faded, lighter guy with a big name" ilk.
So if this fight does come off, full props to Amir, it shows that he does want to prove himself against the dangermen. Its always been said Amir would fight anyone, but he was held back by promoter etc, so maybe now we'll see him in more top quality fights. Khan can beat Maidana, but that ever present danger of huge power vs brittle chin will make the fight exciting. Hope it comes off, and if it does, Amir will be able to say he proved his doubters wrong and it actually mean something
Whilst I've been critical of his career before he fought for the WBA belt, I find it hard to fault Khan since the Kotelnik fight. By agreeing to that fight he was effectively agreeing to 3 fights if he wanted to hang onto the title. Kotelnik of course, Salita the overdue mandatory and Maidana the interim champion! allegedly would surely have been aware that this was the situation and presumably would have made Khan aware of it too, so all credit to Khan for agreeing to do this!
However, having said all that, now that he's with Golden Boy, I'm would not be at all surprised to see some kind of step aside deal agreed in the next few weeks. I get the feeling that Khan would very much like to hold onto his title and is willing to face whoever he needs to in order to do it, but his promoters would rather he face a softer touch instead in order to protect their asset.
That's quite a bit of waffle so to summarise: credit to Khan for wanting to fight his tough mandatory, but I'm waiting to see if Golden Boy will let him!
reggaereggae wrote:
But let's remember Maidana is hardly an all-time great and has already been beaten by Khan victim Kotelnik.
haha... this sums boxrec up
no, it's one person's opinion. some will be impressed because khan hasn't ducked a puncher. others will be less impressed, because maidana lost to kotelnik.
I'll be neither impressed or unimpressed for him facing what is, simply a mandatory challenger.
Why should boxing fans break open the champagne just because a 'champion' makes a defence against a 'challenger' ?
It's not like he is going up to Welter to take on a champion, or in a WBC, IBF, WBA unification showdown with a big name - sure i would take my hat off to him if he was.
But the simple fact still remains that just because he has been criticised for ducking legit opponents - if he suddenly then actually fights one after all these years, then that criticism does not turn into gushing praise and we all start apologising....
...no, the criticism simply ends.
I'll reserve the 'impressed or not' verdict until the fight itself.
G0mez wrote:I'll be neither impressed or unimpressed for him facing what is, simply a mandatory challenger.
Why should boxing fans break open the champagne just because a 'champion' makes a defence against a 'challenger' ?
Because when they have clout they could always drop the belt and do something else. Khan could quite easily drop the belt and fight Malignaggi. In fact, many predicted he would do so.
G0mez wrote:I'll be neither impressed or unimpressed for him facing what is, simply a mandatory challenger.
Why should boxing fans break open the champagne just because a 'champion' makes a defence against a 'challenger' ?
It's not like he is going up to Welter to take on a champion, or in a WBC, IBF, WBA unification showdown with a big name - sure i would take my hat off to him if he was.
But the simple fact still remains that just because he has been criticised for ducking legit opponents - if he suddenly then actually fights one after all these years, then that criticism does not turn into gushing praise and we all start apologising....
...no, the criticism simply ends.
I'll reserve the 'impressed or not' verdict until the fight itself.
Thats the nail on the head
Khan is a world champion belt holder. Fighting legit challengers should be the natural process.
praise or critism will come after he has .. or not faced it.
tonyevs wrote:Thats the nail on the head
Khan is a world champion belt holder. Fighting legit challengers should be the natural process.
praise or critism will come after he has .. or not faced it.
Both will come no matter what he does. It's the quantities that change. Khan will always receive a higher percentage of criticism than is fair, from Brits, simply because he is successful. You only have to look through a Khan topic on here to see that. I find it a bit sad to see.
The most telling thing I`ve read on the whole Khan v Maidana - Khan leaving Warren is this piece I read from a recent artice.
Roach told ESPN.com that Khan called him from England on Friday and asked for him to put him in touch with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.
"So I put them together," Roach said. "I know Amir was not happy with the offer to fight Maidana and wanted to see if there was a better deal out there."
Apparently, he got one from Golden Boy, which hopes to make Khan's American debut fight against New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden, perhaps as soon as April.
Looks like Fwank was keener to make the fight than Khan ... so much for Khan being the one held back
D
