How do Amir Khan and Frankie Gavin match up talent wise?

[lefty]

Obviously im a big fan of Gavins and really like his style and think he has alot of ability but im wondering if he had the experience how would he match up against khan?Would Khans speed be too much or could Frankie outbox him?Id love to hear all the pro's and ex pro's opinions on this like Bomber,Smigga,Dilksy and also Arnie's and Frankie's himself?

[sweetscience]

Bomber,Smigga,Dilksy and also Arnie's and Frankie's himself?

Gym Mate, Mate, Trainer & Himself.... think you may get a one sided view on the fight

i think Gavin is the better boxer... but i think Khan would beat him if they met (at equal stages of career), due to speed & power

[lefty]

Bomber,Smigga,Dilksy and also Arnie's and Frankie's himself?

Gym Mate, Mate, Trainer & Himself.... think you may get a one sided view on the fight

i think Gavin is the better boxer... but i think Khan would beat him if they met (at equal stages of career), due to speed & power

Yeah i can see where you're coming from!Well i want everyones opinion on it not just those guys but it would be good to hear from them too.

[ArtOfWar]

Talent wise Khan is in a different league to anyone Britian has produced in a long time. The chin question will always be his problem though.

[Counter-puncher]

how they match up talentwise is, Khan has an awful lot of obvious talent but it's solely below his neck, Gavin has talent above and below the neck.

ArtofWar- i've always said Khan's talent isn't just restricted by his chin. the tiny nubbin he's got at the top of his neck in place of a brain doesn't do him any favours either

[TerribleTerry]

Frankie has the better technique and skill - Khan has the better physical tools ie speed, power etc

Frankie was Khan's main sparring partner before the Olympics so they know each others fighting style's well.

At this stage Khan would win for me but in 18 months time if Frankie keeps improving and stays dedicated then it might well be a different story. Technique over athletic ability for me every time.

[Deserter]

Technique over athletic ability for me every time.

I was about to post something similar in regards to Khan's advantage being athleticism rather than pure boxing ability. However, I'm not convinced regarding technique over athletic ability every time Terry. Look at the way Jones Jr in his prime was able to utilise his athletic ability to overcome better technical fighters like Hopkins and Toney.

[lefty]

Technique over athletic ability for me every time.

I was about to post something similar in regards to Khan's advantage being athleticism rather than pure boxing ability. However, I'm not convinced regarding technique over athletic ability every time Terry. Look at the way Jones Jr in his prime was able to utilise his athletic ability to overcome better technical fighters like Hopkins and Toney.

Yeah that is a good point!I think when/if Haye and Klitschko fight it will be a case of technique vs athleticism ie klitschkos technique vs haye's athleticism.

[TerribleTerry]

Technique over athletic ability for me every time.

I was about to post something similar in regards to Khan's advantage being athleticism rather than pure boxing ability. However, I'm not convinced regarding technique over athletic ability every time Terry. Look at the way Jones Jr in his prime was able to utilise his athletic ability to overcome better technical fighters like Hopkins and Toney.

Good point Deserter - as I was posting that I was thinking of Roy Jones - he is the exception that proves the rule for me - once his physical tools began to erode his poor technique was somewhat exposed and laid bare...

I know what you mean though - in his pomp his athletic ability meant he was untouchable

[SteveDow]

I'd fancy Khan strongly to be honest, even in 2 years time. I think the guys Khan will struggle against are guys with genuine knock out power which Gavin clearly doesn't have.

I appreciate Gavin's technical attributes but I just think he'd be taking way too many punches from Khan who has lightening speed and would be stopped by the mid-rounds. I've noticed in watching his early fights that Gavin is getting caught too often and whilst this hasn't had a negative effect yet I believe when he moves up in class this will be a real problem for him.

[Counter-puncher]

I don't think Khan has the relative athletic gifts at 140-47 that RJJ had at 168-75.

RJJ was so fast at 168-75 as to be almost inconceivable.

we've seen plenty of fighters about as quick as Khan at 140-47.

[tonyevs]

Talent wise Khan is in a different league to anyone Britian has produced in a long time. The chin question will always be his problem though.

Agreed.

Khans lack of chin and general appeal are his main draw-backs.

Frankie Gavin, if promoted corectly, could potentially be another Hatton. Some on here will be thinking thats a bad thing. But nobody has had a big following as Hatton.....especially not Khan, who's fan base gets smaller & smaller with every fight...or idiotic comment..

[SteveDow]

I don't think Khan has the relative athletic gifts at 140-47 that RJJ had at 168-75.

RJJ was so fast at 168-75 as to be almost inconceivable.

we've seen plenty of fighters about as quick as Khan at 140-47.

I have to disagree with you on Khan's speed. I'm not a big Khan fan and think he has a number of weaknesses but the one thing he has over almost any fighter in the world is lightening fast hands. He's up there with Mayweather and Pacquiao in the speed stakes (although obviously not in any others!).

[Counter-puncher]

ok steve fair enough, but my point there is you can compare Khan's speed to others, pac Mayweather and if i wanted to go back a bit Meldrick Taylor (probably quicker) Mosley, etc etc etc

i can't compare anyone to RJJ and that's my point, Khan's as fast as the elite top 3 or 4 in terms of speed, RJJ was all on his own

so RJJ had so much mroe speed his other weaknesses were lessl ikely to be found out

IMO Khan's advantage is less so he can't cover up his weaknesses as easily as RJJ did

[Counter-puncher]

'wall of sound punching'

[SteveDow]

ok steve fair enough, but my point there is you can compare Khan's speed to others, pac Mayweather and if i wanted to go back a bit Meldrick Taylor (probably quicker) Mosley, etc etc etc

i can't compare anyone to RJJ and that's my point, Khan's as fast as the elite top 3 or 4 in terms of speed, RJJ was all on his own

so RJJ had so much mroe speed his other weaknesses were lessl ikely to be found out

IMO Khan's advantage is less so he can't cover up his weaknesses as easily as RJJ did

Fair enough mate. Going back to the original topic though, I just can't see someone with Gavin's style beating Khan. Obviously the biggest flaw Khan has is his chin which Gavin doesn't have the power to expose. I could only see him being overwhelmed by Khan's speed even if he improves his defence.

[Counter-puncher]

aye. difficult to counterpunch someone who's got longer arms and very fast hands.

[Counter-puncher]

aye mate, it was very telling that the only shot Khan could land vs Paulie, consistently, was the jab when he was doubling and tripling up. try getting him to throw just 3 punches in combination and it's a slightly different story.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Why on earth is anyone comparing Khan to Roy Jones And then saying Roy's technique was abysmal? Roy's technique is excellent actually, its just what he attempts to do takes an awful lot of athletic ability. Khan's technique is levels below Jones as is his athletic ability, lets not be silly. And shoe shinning doesn't count as speed gentlemen, especially telegraphed shoe shinning. Khan has allot of advantages with his height/reach, jab, speed, conditioning and workrate, I'd compare him to more of a Calzaghe type more than anything, but without the chin

I agree with the 'Khan has the better athleticism, Gavin is the better technician' comments, Gavin's skill level is amazing, the most skilled British boxer I've seen in a long long time, I can't think of many who have combined defense, accuracy, countering skill, mastering of all punches. For those reasons I could see him making the much more awkward mechanical Khan looking silly if they fought

[coneye]

Khan is fast no doubt about it, but to date , his speed has only stood out against smaller guys who cannot afford to ry and walk him down , . yOU CANNOT compare Khan to Jones , Khan is just fast , but against someone else same size coming forwarD , with reasonable speed what did we see . KO

kHAN IS FAST AND LOOKS FASTER AGAINST AGING SMALLER GUYS , Jones and Mayweather were / are are unbelievably fast against guys in there prime the same size .

Khans speed is'nt gonna help him against a decent guy his own size who can take his jab and cut the ring down .Cos believe me when trhat happens he's gone

[jBacca]

Out of interest, what would you all say was harder to acquire; Olympic silver or World Championships gold?

[jBacca]

Out of interest, what would you all say was harder to acquire; Olympic silver or World Championships gold?

That depends on a whole host of things. The calibre of opposition in each respective competition to name but one.

Ok then. If you have a second to compare both achievements (for Khan and Gavin), what would you say was more impressive?

[Counter-puncher]

FWIW J, i think i recall someone saying Gavin had beaten better opponents en route to the world gold, but personally i wouldn't have a clue.

[JamesH]

Out of interest, what would you all say was harder to acquire; Olympic silver or World Championships gold?

I would say the worlds, based on there being more fights with less breathing space between each.

[jBacca]

Upon inspection Gavin beat Domenico Valentino in the final, who went on to win the Worlds in 2009. He also beat Alexie Tichtchenko who has won two Olympic golds, and a gold in the Worlds. Scary feat.