Khan and the Booing

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 21 Feb 2007, 06:49

Lo guys,

What did you make of the pretty harsh treatment that Khan experienced on Saturday.

I know we tend to pick holes in his boxing and also all the bluster that surrounds him, but only 11 fights in and there are signs already that Khan is already outstaying his welcome as a prime time star, especially aganst his current opposition.

Was it just a blip, or will there be more of the same when he next fights away from home? - Could we have another Audley Harrison on our hands here?

I personally thought that the ITV commentating team where a little taken a back when the boo's started ringing out and quickly jumped on the defensive.

I mean a first round KO should be more than enough to satisfy the average punter, but oddly enough I asked my mate what he fought of the fight, and his words where "why do they only ever fight people they know they are going to beat, boxings always been like that"

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:12

It was probably because the fans felt a bit short changed that the bout wasn't more competitive, not Khans fault.
I know in the past his fans have been criticised for walking out after Khan has fought , and not wait to see the main bout of the card, certainly caused problems in Scotland when Khan fought on a Scott Harrison card.

But on Saturday anyone else notice the Asian lady(Khans Mum??) shouting at ringside during the Earl v Katsidis fight, she was yelling at Earl to get his jab going and move more. Not bad advice at the time :)

theguru · Post by **theguru** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:12

KHAN is another Audley Harrison waiting to happen.Over hyped over protected under achieving,ridiculous to be put at No 15 in the WBO mind you anyone remember when Jennings was No 1,talk about a joke.

emma · Post by **emma** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:12

Its obvious, everyone is fed up with the low standed opposition. I dont think its the same as Audley. If khan had had a durable opponent no one would have booed.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:16

It is the "mexican roadsweeper" syndrome which we see again and again with UK fighters

They build up a record, get themselves a few meaningless titles as baubles, con the public for a while and then, when they enter the real world, they usually get found out.

Calzaghe stepped up against Lacey and a few others, but I can't think of many examples where anyone else has in recent memory

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:17

I can't believe that Khan gets so much stick.

After the brown stuff that Audley Harrison has served up over the last 7 years & the massive con trick he has pulled, you'd have thought that people would welcome the path Amir Khan is taking.

He may still be mixing it in gutter class, but at least he looks good beating these guys (unlike Audley did), he fights more than twice a year & he has a career path mapped out.

Khan may end up being a busted flush. Who knows what will happen?

I for one will not criticise Amir Khan at this stage, even if he loses, becase he has at least shown some ambition & promise.

jeej · Post by **jeej** » 21 Feb 2007, 08:17

Frank has now spoken up and said they are gonna be really careful with Amir and he wont have a 'meaningful' fight till at least next year. Which I guess is a good (or safe?) plan for a young talent, but don't push him on the TV like he is the second coming then! You cant advertise this boxing machine superstar and then show him fighting a second-rate opponent - it's no wonder the fans feel short changed.

I know the olympics shone the limelight on to Amir, but I think they should have kept him low profile for a couple of years, then with the right marketing they could have presented this silver medal winning 15 fight undefeated superstar and everyone would have lapped it up. I just think the promoters are too bloody greedy (not that this is a revelation!) - they have no place to moan, all they care about is making a quick buck.

caster · Post by **caster** » 21 Feb 2007, 08:32

Khan seems a good bloke, its just the hype around him that puts me off..

they can't expect real boxing fans to be easily duped.

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 21 Feb 2007, 08:54

I don't think it was Khan getting booed the other night, it was the opponent. I thik Khan will sell tickets and people want to see him fight, but everybody was a bit annoyed that he was put in with a guy who got KO'd by the first meaningful punch landed. I knew it was still a good stoppage for Khan but also felt disappointed. I had told the people I went with that Khan would be far better and unlikely to lose a round but that this guy should take him a few and it would become interesting when it went a few rounds in and he would be trying to get him out of there quicker than Mitchell did. In the end we didn't really learn or see anything and that's what pissed people off. Good thing the Earl-Katsidis and Sprott-Harrison fights provided good entertainment - overall I felt it was a successful night for Sports Network, and good for the sport being on ITV.

caster · Post by **caster** » 21 Feb 2007, 09:01

Yes, was good match making by Sports Network for Earl fight.

Graham Earl showed a lot of bottle!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Feb 2007, 09:18

Khan's problem is that he is being sold as pretty much a 'main event' fighter off of the back of his olympic success, whilst bowling over totally non threatening opponents. The result of this is that the audience get pissed off when they see him bash someone up in under 1 round, because they are expecting to see him in a real fight, which is unlikely to happen for some time yet. I thought his opponent last time out gave him a decent test, but because every single opponent has virtually no punch power to speak of, we aren't seeing him really tested.

Khan is a world away in my mind anyway from beating the likes of a Thaxton right now, Thaxon would definetly tag him during the fight, and if he did, I don't think Khan would survive. Khan's speed and punch selection make it harder than usual to find him a good test, without putting him in jeapordy, but at some stage fighters need a test.

It may be that Khan gets exposed on a pretty big stage, like at European level after breezing through his first 20.

What worries me is that whilst SN are coining it in, Khan will become unpopular and poor old Amir won't really understand why there is a backlash.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 21 Feb 2007, 09:33

I'd like to see Khan in with some live lightweights/light welters.
He's got a few in britain to gauge his progress such as Steffy Bull, Martin Watson

Tehseen · Post by **Tehseen** » 21 Feb 2007, 10:58

I was there on Sat night. It's well known in the circuit that Graham Earl fans have something against Amir. The booing was no surprise to him or any of his fans. It's a grudge thing..nothing else.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 21 Feb 2007, 11:07

Khan the precocious, confident but modest 17 year old lad who won a silver medal, should have been down the card to begin with. But boxing on ITV was sold on the back of his Olympic exploits and his crossover appeal. Now he is a headliner for boxing in this country and therein lies the problem. There is a big gap between where he is as a pro boxer and the hype, PR and expectation that the SN/ITV bandwagon are trying to sell. The trouble is the boxing public (and the wider public to an extent) see this and hold it against him. Somewhat unfairly IMO.

JC · Post by JC » 21 Feb 2007, 11:13

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Khan's problem is that he is being sold as pretty much a 'main event' fighter off of the back of his olympic success, whilst bowling over totally non threatening opponents. The result of this is that the audience get pissed off when they see him bash someone up in under 1 round, because they are expecting to see him in a real fight, which is unlikely to happen for some time yet. I thought his opponent last time out gave him a decent test, but because every single opponent has virtually no punch power to speak of, we aren't seeing him really tested.

Khan is a world away in my mind anyway from beating the likes of a Thaxton right now, Thaxon would definetly tag him during the fight, and if he did, I don't think Khan would survive. Khan's speed and punch selection make it harder than usual to find him a good test, without putting him in jeapordy, but at some stage fighters need a test.

It may be that Khan gets exposed on a pretty big stage, like at European level after breezing through his first 20.

What worries me is that whilst SN are coining it in, Khan will become unpopular and poor old Amir won't really understand why there is a backlash.

Agree 100%

I wonder if SN have somewhat boxed themselves into a corner (no pun intended) with the way Kahn's been hyped up to the pubic. Most prospects don't get anywhere near the attention Kahn does, let alone go out on prime time tv as near equal top billing until they're already past the stage of their careers that Kahn is at now.

Now people have seen him on TV for around two years they want to see him in with a name they recognise, which he is just not ready for yet. So SN are having to find fighters with records which look good on paper but can be put in with a 20 yr old with only 11 fights. Right now he'd be better off fighting a guy with a record of like 15-12-1 or some thing, but who might actually pose him a few new problems to figure out, instead of guys with good win/loss percentages that pose not real difficulty.

We saw with Audley and to some extent Lacy what trying to take short cuts can do. Unlike them Kahn has youth on his side. Possibly his promotional team should lay off a little and give him time to develop, whilst making sure he learns from each fight.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Feb 2007, 11:18

To put it from Warren's perspective (If I may so bold as to speak for the Frank one), he's a bit stuffed. Since Hatton left after he had already negotiated the deal with ITV, suddenly reducing his capacity to put on big headline shows, he kind of HAS to have Khan as a big attraction, who else is there? Macca isn't exactly bigtime in terms of exposure, Audley's just shot his wad, and none of his other heavyweights are going to really sell a big show, Harrison's out getting wankered and beating people up, and Calzaghe doesn't fight that often, and is nearing the end.

Having said that, perhaps, providing Earl isn't permanently ruined by that night, maybe the likes of Earl can come good and provide crowd pleasing fights that will save the bills where khan continues to feast on smaller men in learning fights.

JC · Post by JC » 21 Feb 2007, 11:25

Yes I can totally understand Warrens perspective. I just think it will be a shame if in order to keep the punters coming he's kept fighting low risk guys and eventually has to take a big step up, then looses in his first big test and gets the kind of savaging Audley is getting at the moment.

Maybe it would have worked out better if he stayed in the Ams until the commonwealth games.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 21 Feb 2007, 12:30

SticknMove wrote:Khan the precocious, confident but modest 17 year old lad who won a silver medal, should have been down the card to begin with. But boxing on ITV was sold on the back of his Olympic exploits and his crossover appeal. Now he is a headliner for boxing in this country and therein lies the problem. There is a big gap between where he is as a pro boxer and the hype, PR and expectation that the SN/ITV bandwagon are trying to sell. The trouble is the boxing public (and the wider public to an extent) see this and hold it against him. Somewhat unfairly IMO.

hes almost joint top on the card in terms of advertising and tv spots, when you look at other olympians in other countries it is recognised that they are not top dawer, or indeed top draw, untill later on

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 21 Feb 2007, 12:46

Is Khan selling as many tickets as he first was?
I fully expect the boo`s to continue simply because the opposition isn`t going to get much better for a long long time :(

I don`t agree with the view somebody here has expressed in that Khan has looked good beating the opponents so far......Nigel Benn got fed the original `Mexican road sweepers`...and he looked dynamite bowling them over....Khan has looked shyte in comparison...and the opponents have all been carefully vetted to be bowled over don`t forget that :x

I raved about Khan as much as most when he did excellent in the Olympics, he really appealed...his quiet innocent confidence showed through, and it was also good seeing his father beaming with pride, smiling his ugly mug off every time they found him in the crowd or interviewed him.

But how fast things changed...even before he gave up the vest the arrogance was becoming clear...the whole ABA ticket fiasco and his attitude towards the ABA winner also.....and not even his father seems to smile as he did before.

I really think Khan will end up like Audley in regard to how the public view him...
I asked the guys in work did they see the boxing...what boxing almost everyone asked....the Khan and Audley ones I replied.......Nah, a load of rubbish those two.....and that view is aired all too often, how many here have heard the same??

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 21 Feb 2007, 13:52

Rather than fighting smaller non punchers they should be looking to match him with bigger non punchers. Light Welters who will take him a few rounds and give him a chance to learn. He is learning nothing from beating the shit out of smaller opponents.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 21 Feb 2007, 15:23

m1kee50 wrote:
SticknMove wrote:Khan the precocious, confident but modest 17 year old lad who won a silver medal, should have been down the card to begin with. But boxing on ITV was sold on the back of his Olympic exploits and his crossover appeal. Now he is a headliner for boxing in this country and therein lies the problem. There is a big gap between where he is as a pro boxer and the hype, PR and expectation that the SN/ITV bandwagon are trying to sell. The trouble is the boxing public (and the wider public to an extent) see this and hold it against him. Somewhat unfairly IMO.
hes almost joint top on the card in terms of advertising and tv spots, when you look at other olympians in other countries it is recognised that they are not top dawer, or indeed top draw, untill later on

Quite right.

And there lies the problem in trying to sustain his popularity during a fledgeling career whilst maintaining the type of top billing, PR and hype, which really should be reserved for fighters that have achieved a certain level and promise of a lot more.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 21 Feb 2007, 15:46

theguru wrote:KHAN is another Audley Harrison waiting to happen.Over hyped over protected under achieving,ridiculous to be put at No 15 in the WBO mind you anyone remember when Jennings was No 1,talk about a joke.

I disagree. Difference being that Khan uses his talent on the stiffs he's facing. Not seen too much early Audley. But he wasn't half as lively. Warren will get away with what he can, but surely by fight # 14 Khan will be stepping up to the Earls/Meagers, if not the Thaxtons.

Thr world rating is shite, I agree there. It's an insult. Warren says there's no world title any time soon, and that next year he'll fight for a major title. Hopefully he meant a real title, like British.

Bigcat123 · Post by **Bigcat123** » 21 Feb 2007, 16:11

caster wrote:
Graham Earl showed a lot of bottle!

you better beleive it..

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 21 Feb 2007, 18:35

SticknMove wrote:
m1kee50 wrote:
SticknMove wrote:Khan the precocious, confident but modest 17 year old lad who won a silver medal, should have been down the card to begin with. But boxing on ITV was sold on the back of his Olympic exploits and his crossover appeal. Now he is a headliner for boxing in this country and therein lies the problem. There is a big gap between where he is as a pro boxer and the hype, PR and expectation that the SN/ITV bandwagon are trying to sell. The trouble is the boxing public (and the wider public to an extent) see this and hold it against him. Somewhat unfairly IMO.
hes almost joint top on the card in terms of advertising and tv spots, when you look at other olympians in other countries it is recognised that they are not top dawer, or indeed top draw, untill later on
Quite right.

And there lies the problem in trying to sustain his popularity during a fledgeling career whilst maintaining the type of top billing, PR and hype, which really should be reserved for fighters that have achieved a certain level and promise of a lot more.

shows how desperate they are to increase the popularity, we had AH and AK foisted on us as poster boys, to lure the greater public back to boxing

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 21 Feb 2007, 19:31

I think Khans opponent was a pretty decent test for the lad based on the Mitchell fight but Amir found the gap to his chin very early on and that was that - I would like to see Khan in a meaningful fight later this year but If Frank wants to leave it until 2008 and prepare him even more then so be it - I think he has had long enough in the nursery and its time to go to school and if he really is that good he will survive but if he isnt he wont - Not sure I like to hear him compared with Harrison, however there are a couple of things they have in common, Olympic medals and mentioning world titles before gaining a British one - Thaxton would be a huge risk but if he isnt ready to take on Thaxton later this year he wont be next year because a few months wont make a big difference - Well Khan believes he can do wonders and shit miracles so FW should let him prove it, to himself, and his army of fans - Its not Khans fault he is in the limelight as much as he is, ITV have put him there - My mate said to his daughter who knows nothing at all about boxers and boxing that he was stopping in to see the fight - He mentioned Harrison and Sprott and she hadnt even heard of them but as soon as he said Amir Khan she knew his name straightaway and said she would watch it - So a boxer who isnt even in the main event is more famous and draws more viewers - Khan is responsible for boxing being back on ITV so lets not complain about the lad, he is doing great things for our sport - I just dont want to see it going to his head.