so rumors were correct..
so rumors were correct..
amirs next opponent is scott lawton.
Amir Khan makes the first defence of his Commonwealth lightweight title against Stoke stylist and English champion Scott Lawton at Nottingham Ice Arena on October 6.
Khan showed he was all fighter ripping the Commonwealth belt from Glasgow's Willie Limond in a thrilling encounter at the 02 last month. What a contest! In just his 13th fight, Khan was caught time and again by the right hands of the experienced Scot until hammered to the canvas in the sixth. But he clambered up, gritted his teeth, rode out the storm and launched an amazing rally in the seventh, when it was Limond's turn to hit the canvas. The tide had well and truly turned, and a battered-looking Limond was pulled out at the end of the eighth with a perforated eardrum.
Khan, still only 20, had come of age.
And yet his blood and guts victory drew plenty of criticism. "Amir can still look very amateur," said promoter F rank Warren of Khan's defensive faults. "I like to see fighters tucking up and keeping their chins down." Big Alex Morrison, Limond's manager, was more blunt: "I can't see Khan as a world champ." British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton labelled Khan "chinny" (down twice now in two years as a pro) but still called him out. Some of the criticism was plain baffling. Khan gets slagged for blowing away a series of soft opponents, then grinds out a thrilling victory over a solid fighter and is still slagged.
Still, the unbeaten Bolton boy has something to prove against Lawton, who comes off an unsuccessful challenge to Thaxton in March in Norwich (Thaxton's manor), where he was stopped in seven. But he was never off his feet. Indeed, Lawton boxed well against the stocky southpaw champion until he picked up a bad cut in the seventh and opted to trade and was rocked by a big right hook. Referee Richie Davies dived in.
Khan will look to better Thaxton, of course, and for those expecting another test of Khan's chin - don't. Lawton, with only four early wins, is no puncher (though the same accusation was levelled at Limond). What he is is tall, busy, neat-boxing and reigning English lightweight champion, a title he won stopping Doncaster's Stefy Bull in eight rounds in Doncaster last year - the same Bull who lost in three rounds to Khan earlier this year in Cardiff. Before that, Lawton outscored Baz "Bulldog" Carey over 10 rounds. Carey also went in with Khan, in Khan's second pro fight, and lasted the full four rounds to finish busted up. Probably Lawton's best win is a six-round decision over Irish lightweight champion Peter McDonagh in 2005, the London-based Galwayman who forced Michael Gomez to quit in the fifth round in Dublin last year.
His record is good: just three losses in 24 fights (one draw)
But he was floored with a body shot and held to an eight-round draw by Barnsley's Surinder Sekhon in February last year in Stoke - all of 1-8 going in - though Sekhon had weight on Lawton. Khan is a good body puncher of course. As for other blemishes: in September 2005, Scott was outhustled and outpointed over six rounds in Sheffield by aging Hartlepool southpaw Alan Temple, who packed the game in a fight later. Ayr's then unbeaten Dave Stewart outscored Lawton in a six-rounder in Piccadilly in 2003, a more respectable setback.
And there is no disgrace in losing to Thaxton, who gave Ricky Hatton one of his toughest fights.
But Scott was obviously outgunned against the Thetford puncher, and his lack of power will hinder him. He's also knocking on a bit at 30 (10 years older than Khan). Lawton, a dedicated, popular fighter, will have a crowd making their way down the A50 from the Potteries and gets good sparring with the likes of Jimmy Doherty and Gary Reid in Stoke.
But the new champion will have come on for the Limond war. He looks too quick, too sharp, too much.
Khan showed he was all fighter ripping the Commonwealth belt from Glasgow's Willie Limond in a thrilling encounter at the 02 last month. What a contest! In just his 13th fight, Khan was caught time and again by the right hands of the experienced Scot until hammered to the canvas in the sixth. But he clambered up, gritted his teeth, rode out the storm and launched an amazing rally in the seventh, when it was Limond's turn to hit the canvas. The tide had well and truly turned, and a battered-looking Limond was pulled out at the end of the eighth with a perforated eardrum.
Khan, still only 20, had come of age.
And yet his blood and guts victory drew plenty of criticism. "Amir can still look very amateur," said promoter F rank Warren of Khan's defensive faults. "I like to see fighters tucking up and keeping their chins down." Big Alex Morrison, Limond's manager, was more blunt: "I can't see Khan as a world champ." British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton labelled Khan "chinny" (down twice now in two years as a pro) but still called him out. Some of the criticism was plain baffling. Khan gets slagged for blowing away a series of soft opponents, then grinds out a thrilling victory over a solid fighter and is still slagged.
Still, the unbeaten Bolton boy has something to prove against Lawton, who comes off an unsuccessful challenge to Thaxton in March in Norwich (Thaxton's manor), where he was stopped in seven. But he was never off his feet. Indeed, Lawton boxed well against the stocky southpaw champion until he picked up a bad cut in the seventh and opted to trade and was rocked by a big right hook. Referee Richie Davies dived in.
Khan will look to better Thaxton, of course, and for those expecting another test of Khan's chin - don't. Lawton, with only four early wins, is no puncher (though the same accusation was levelled at Limond). What he is is tall, busy, neat-boxing and reigning English lightweight champion, a title he won stopping Doncaster's Stefy Bull in eight rounds in Doncaster last year - the same Bull who lost in three rounds to Khan earlier this year in Cardiff. Before that, Lawton outscored Baz "Bulldog" Carey over 10 rounds. Carey also went in with Khan, in Khan's second pro fight, and lasted the full four rounds to finish busted up. Probably Lawton's best win is a six-round decision over Irish lightweight champion Peter McDonagh in 2005, the London-based Galwayman who forced Michael Gomez to quit in the fifth round in Dublin last year.
His record is good: just three losses in 24 fights (one draw)
But he was floored with a body shot and held to an eight-round draw by Barnsley's Surinder Sekhon in February last year in Stoke - all of 1-8 going in - though Sekhon had weight on Lawton. Khan is a good body puncher of course. As for other blemishes: in September 2005, Scott was outhustled and outpointed over six rounds in Sheffield by aging Hartlepool southpaw Alan Temple, who packed the game in a fight later. Ayr's then unbeaten Dave Stewart outscored Lawton in a six-rounder in Piccadilly in 2003, a more respectable setback.
And there is no disgrace in losing to Thaxton, who gave Ricky Hatton one of his toughest fights.
But Scott was obviously outgunned against the Thetford puncher, and his lack of power will hinder him. He's also knocking on a bit at 30 (10 years older than Khan). Lawton, a dedicated, popular fighter, will have a crowd making their way down the A50 from the Potteries and gets good sparring with the likes of Jimmy Doherty and Gary Reid in Stoke.
But the new champion will have come on for the Limond war. He looks too quick, too sharp, too much.
Last edited by bennie on 11 Aug 2007, 04:49, edited 2 times in total.
not exactly. Lawton beat Steffy Bull, who Khan beat in a round. So he's obviously a level above what you're referring to. But Lawton lost to British champ Thaxton. That tells me that Khan - still being a kid - is probably being geared toward a fight with Thaxton, when he's ready.Mattyp151 wrote:Another fighter of the same mold, pretty record, a bit chinny, very little KO power...same opponent Khan has fought the last 6 or 7 fights...ridiculous.
Hardly ridiculous if he was nearly stopped last time out. I think he'll be fighting very regularly to suit British TV.
Khan should still be in the amateurs waiting for the next Olympics, ideally.
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Twinkle Toes
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Max Molyneux
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SticknMove
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WildWaylon
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Seems to me to be the right opponent - Pretty decent record but not a puncher and on paper a very beatable opponent for Khan after the risky Limond fight - At the same time you cant say Lawton stands no chance even if his chances of winning are not good - Looks to me as if its Earl next but FW doesnt want to look that far forward - Thaxton I think will be avoided like the plague - Khan would be silly to push for Thaxton and I dont think FW will let it happen - Graham Earl would be a massive challenge and although people are writing Earl off as past his best I still say he is too good for Khan - He isnt a huge puncher like Thaxton but he can bang a bit and is better than Limond so it would be a very tough fight for Khan.
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WildWaylon
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Definately wins post of the day, good intelligent wit well thought out.SticknMove wrote:Bay leaf it out. He needs thyme to develop. Let him pepper Elvis Parsley with 8oz cloves. We should treat his claim of champ at 21 with a pinch of salt, before we get too caraway.harrygreb wrote:do you mean those all time greats CUMIN BASILio and rocky OREGANO?
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Max Molyneux
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SticknMove
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Far too condimentary WW. I was a wee bit pished and came up with a paprika moment.WildWaylon wrote:Definately wins post of the day, good intelligent wit well thought out.SticknMove wrote:Bay leaf it out. He needs thyme to develop. Let him pepper Elvis Parsley with 8oz cloves. We should treat his claim of champ at 21 with a pinch of salt, before we get too caraway.harrygreb wrote:do you mean those all time greats CUMIN BASILio and rocky OREGANO?
But there's no such excuse for the above.