Big Up - Amir Khan

[Anzi]

Amir Khan is a British all time great, which makes him a great fighter, Silver medalist in the Olympics at only 17 years old, 2 time world champion has a pro, he has beat about 8 former world champions and he has fought 12 and his career has not finished yet, still only 29. What other British fighters have done that ? People need to stop the hating and appreciate.

[Anzi]

Can even see Amir Khan beating Garcia in a rematch at 147 for a 3rd world title.

[Anzi]

Khan still mandatory for Garcia’s Welterweight crown

09/05/2016
allegedly
Fresh from his valiant effort in Las Vegas over the weekend, Amir Khan finds himself still sitting at the top of the WBC World Welterweight rankings.

Khan, who was sensationally knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in the sixth round, is set to move back down to a more natural weight and push ahead with his career.

Our man on the famous Strip last week Steve Lillis caught up with the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who explained the situation.

“Amir Khan is the mandatory contender in the Welterweight division. The WBC accepted his opportunity to fight Canelo. If he was to lose, he’s still the mandatory challenger – It’s in writing.”

Danny Garcia

This would present Khan with an opportunity to rematch current Champion Danny Garcia, who holds a knockout victory over the Bolton native back in July 2012.

Garcia, who won the vacant World Title against Robert Guerrero back in January, has been linked with a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather should the 49-0 superstar return to the ring later this year.

After nearly a year in between fights, the proud Brit took to his Twitter after Saturday night’s defeat to declare:


Fans will be hoping it doesn’t take Amir another 12 months to return to the ring after his gutsy effort in the U.S.

Watch the full interview with Steve Lillis and Mauricio Sulaiman below:

[Boxerbeetle]

Can even see Amir Khan beating Garcia in a rematch at 147 for a 3rd world title.

Garcia has looked poor in his last few fights, so it's not that unlikely.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Amir Khan is a British all time great, which makes him a great fighter, Silver medalist in the Olympics at only 17 years old, 2 time world champion has a pro, he has beat about 8 former world champions and he has fought 12 and his career has not finished yet, still only 29. What other British fighters have done that ? People need to stop the hating and appreciate.

Let's temper the outpouring of admiration a little, many of those former world champs were rather a long way past their prime when Khan fought them, and whilst he has been a 2 time belt holder, at no point has he been considered the best fighter in any division, sometimes bald figures like that flatter to deceive.

[Horse]

Let's temper the outpouring of admiration a little, many of those former world champs were rather a long way past their prime when Khan fought them, and whilst he has been a 2 time belt holder, at no point has he been considered the best fighter in any division, sometimes bald figures like that flatter to deceive.

Are you sure that he wasn't considered the No. 1 at light welterweight just after Bradley moved up?

He had a claim at least.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Let's temper the outpouring of admiration a little, many of those former world champs were rather a long way past their prime when Khan fought them, and whilst he has been a 2 time belt holder, at no point has he been considered the best fighter in any division, sometimes bald figures like that flatter to deceive.

Are you sure that he wasn't considered the No. 1 at light welterweight just after Bradley moved up?

He had a claim at least.

Ok, let's say it was never unequivocal. A claim perhaps, but only briefly.

By contrast, as overrated as some may think Hatton is (I don't rate Hatton all that highly, he's certainly not an ATG) - he was definitely the man at 140 for a while. In fact, he remained the man until he moved up to 147.

[Horse]

Ok, let's say it was never unequivocal. A claim perhaps, but only briefly.

By contrast, as overrated as some may think Hatton is (I don't rate Hatton all that highly, he's certainly not an ATG) - he was definitely the man at 140 for a while. In fact, he remained the man until he moved up to 147.

Hatton is a British ATG.

He was the man until Pacquiao destroyed him.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ok, let's say it was never unequivocal. A claim perhaps, but only briefly.

By contrast, as overrated as some may think Hatton is (I don't rate Hatton all that highly, he's certainly not an ATG) - he was definitely the man at 140 for a while. In fact, he remained the man until he moved up to 147.

Hatton is a British ATG.

He was the man until Pacquiao destroyed him.

When I say ATG, I don't mean british, I mean ATG end of. Hattons probably top 10, definitely top 15 we've produced.

[Horse]

When I say ATG, I don't mean british, I mean ATG end of. Hattons probably top 10, definitely top 15 we've produced.

Okay, you do seem a bit stingy with the ATG/great label though.

[jamesmcdonnell]

When I say ATG, I don't mean british, I mean ATG end of. Hattons probably top 10, definitely top 15 we've produced.

Okay, you do seem a bit stingy with the ATG/great label though.

By necessity, the clue is in the name, - I mean when you think of how many fighters there have been over the last century or so, only a very few can be deserving of greatness. That's my view anyway. Great to me means something truly exceptional, that stands out like a sore thumb in their own era as being head and shoulders above most of their rivals and peers.

[Horse]

By necessity, the clue is in the name, - I mean when you think of how many fighters there have been over the last century or so, only a very few can be deserving of greatness. That's my view anyway. Great to me means something truly exceptional, that stands out like a sore thumb in their own era as being head and shoulders above most of their rivals and peers.

So is 100 too many?

[jimcook]

khan is a busted flush. was like harrison, wildly overrated. cant take a punch, that is why his resume is full of non punchers(kotelnik, malignaggi etc) or old guys way past their best(judah, barrerra etc. anytime he fought a live puncher, he got spanked. his best wins are maidana and kotelnok...hardly giants who will be remembered in years to come. was very effectively marketed, which is why five years after he was relevant, hes still generating all this attention, wheras guys like crolla, who is as much a world champ as khan ever was, gets virtually nothing.

[Horse]

khan is a busted flush. was like harrison, wildly overrated. cant take a punch, that is why his resume is full of non punchers(kotelnik, malignaggi etc) or old guys way past their best(judah, barrerra etc. anytime he fought a live puncher, he got spanked. his best wins are maidana and kotelnok...hardly giants who will be remembered in years to come. was very effectively marketed, which is why five years after he was relevant, hes still generating all this attention, wheras guys like crolla, who is as much a world champ as khan ever was, gets virtually nothing.

Abysmal post.

[jimcook]

youve made 14000 abysmal posts

[Horse]

youve made 14000 abysmal posts

No.

You're just a sad case Brook fan.

[jimcook]

im a boxing fan. i think brook is the best weve got. he would certainly wipe the floor with khan. but then so have many others.

[olij999]

Khan deserves a whole bagful of credit for taking on the challenge. Very foolishly, I thought he would have a better plan to stay away for all 12 rounds and that the knowledge that he couldn't hurt Canelo would help him stick to his boxing without getting involved. Singularly my worst prediction since taking a bet years ago at college on what I did not realise were delayed-tape highlights of a French Open final (it was on Sunday Grandstand where everything was on delayed-tape - how could I not have realised? ) Regardless of whether he's over-achieved or under-achieved, though, he has always been worth watching given his skills, willingness to engage and potential to come unstuck. Would far rather watch Khan than many higher-rated boxers. And I hope he takes on Brook too - no reason why that shouldn't happen.

PS - really depressing to learn that the judges had Canelo 4-1, 3-2 and 3-2 up before the finish. Even watching it with a pessimistic eye, there is no way Khan lost more than 2 of the first 5 rounds.

[Horse]

im a boxing fan. i think brook is the best weve got. he would certainly wipe the floor with khan. but then so have many others.

Khan is a level above Brook.

Khan is a far greater fighter than Brook.

[magwitch]

im a boxing fan. i think brook is the best weve got. he would certainly wipe the floor with khan. but then so have many others.

Khan is a level above Brook.

Khan is a far greater fighter than Brook.

Many others? That’s biased garbage. Khan’s wiped the floor with more good fighters than have wiped the floor with him.....

Is that Swift Garcia kid still unbeaten? That’s lasted a long time if so (his gift against Peterson notwithstanding).

I’m a bit surprised at all this meddling that’s going on with the WBC title. How can a man weigh in at 155 and fight for the 160 belt? Isn’t that screwing another 160lb man out of work, somewhere?

It would seem that Golovkin is the heavier guy than Canelo..... Never realised it. Thought they were the same.....if anything GGG looks smaller to me.

[olij999]

im a boxing fan. i think brook is the best weve got. he would certainly wipe the floor with khan. but then so have many others.

Khan is a level above Brook.

Khan is a far greater fighter than Brook.

Interesting post, Horse. Despite enjoying watching Khan, I can't see a win he has had that is better than Brook's Porter win, although some (like Maidana) come close. If he is a level above and a far greater fighter, can he prove it? I'm about 50:50 on who would win, to be honest.

[Horse]

Interesting post, Horse. Despite enjoying watching Khan, I can't see a win he has had that is better than Brook's Porter win, although some (like Maidana) come close. If he is a level above and a far greater fighter, can he prove it? I'm about 50:50 on who would win, to be honest.

Greatness is not just about a fighter's single best win though.

Khan's (black) and Brook's (red) best 10 results in order:

Marcos Maidana
Shawn Porter
Andriy Kotelnik
Zab Judah
Paulie Malignaggi
Devon Alexander
Luis Collazo
Lamont Peterson (Lost)
Chris Algieri
Julio Diaz

Vyacheslav Senchenko
Rafal Jackiewicz
Frankie Gavin
Carson Jones I
Matthew Hatton
Ionut Dan Ion
Lovemore Ndou
Paul McCloskey
Michael Jennings
Carson Jones II


That's my rough order of their best results ranked against each other and Khan dominates.

[olij999]

im a boxing fan. i think brook is the best weve got. he would certainly wipe the floor with khan. but then so have many others.

Khan is a level above Brook.

Khan is a far greater fighter than Brook.

Many others? That’s biased garbage. Khan’s wiped the floor with more good fighters than have wiped the floor with him.....

Is that Swift Garcia kid still unbeaten? That’s lasted a long time if so (his gift against Peterson notwithstanding).

I’m a bit surprised at all this meddling that’s going on with the WBC title. How can a man weigh in at 155 and fight for the 160 belt? Isn’t that screwing another 160lb man out of work, somewhere?

It would seem that Golovkin is the heavier guy than Canelo..... Never realised it. Thought they were the same.....if anything GGG looks smaller to me.

Garcia's still unbeaten somehow, but has been cleverly matched - since he beat Khan, he has beaten:

- an ancient Eric Morales
- a pretty old Zab Judah
- Lucas Matthyse - clearly a good win
- Mauricio Herrera, which most observers thought he'd lost
- Rod Salka, which was a disgraceful mismatch
- Lamont Peterson, which many again though he'd lost
- a past-it Paulie Malignaggi
- Roberto Guerrero for the WBC title, who has had a few decent wins at welter, but won his first world title at feather and is not, in my view, a full-blown 147-pounder.

So if you are Khan, sitting as number 1 contender to Garcia, you'd probably look at that and not be wildly intimidated, even allowing for Khan's own shortcomings. Garcia is definitely a winnable fight for Khan, but as last time showed, it is also a very losable fight - both are past their peak and both have flaws, so who knows?

[olij999]

Interesting post, Horse. Despite enjoying watching Khan, I can't see a win he has had that is better than Brook's Porter win, although some (like Maidana) come close. If he is a level above and a far greater fighter, can he prove it? I'm about 50:50 on who would win, to be honest.

Greatness is not just about a fighter's single best win though.

Khan's (black) and Brook's (red) best 10 results in order:

Marcos Maidana
Shawn Porter
Andriy Kotelnik
Zab Judah
Paulie Malignaggi
Devon Alexander
Luis Collazo
Lamont Peterson (Lost)
Chris Algieri
Julio Diaz

Vyacheslav Senchenko
Rafal Jackiewicz
Frankie Gavin
Carson Jones I
Matthew Hatton
Ionut Dan Ion
Lovemore Ndou
Paul McCloskey
Michael Jennings
Carson Jones II


That's my rough order of their best results ranked against each other and Khan dominates.

I knew you'd have some rankings, Horse!

In all seriousness, I'd accept your point if both retired now and we were debating who had the better career, and who would beat whom when they were both at their peak. But the current situation is neither - Khan is past his peak, in my view, and some might even say well past. Heavy knockouts like Canelo, Prescott, Garcia put miles on the clock. Brook doesn't have those miles - we don't know if he is at his peak now, just before it or even starting to slip. But he is not where Khan is. That's why I feel your list doesn't answer the right question.

[Anzi]

Let's temper the outpouring of admiration a little, many of those former world champs were rather a long way past their prime when Khan fought them, and whilst he has been a 2 time belt holder, at no point has he been considered the best fighter in any division, sometimes bald figures like that flatter to deceive.

Are you sure that he wasn't considered the No. 1 at light welterweight just after Bradley moved up?

He had a claim at least.

Correct horse, plus the title he held was the super title, he defended it against Malinagi and Judah.