BoxRec

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,3-2007320355,00.html


allegedly has told critics to get off Amir Khan’s back and give credit where it is due.

The promoter has underlined the lightweight sensation’s crowd-pulling powers by agreeing a deal with ITV worth around £3.5million to showcase the Bolton boxer in six fights over the next 12 months.

Khan bids for his first major title when he fights Scotland’s Commonwealth champ Willie Limond at London’s O2 Arena tomorrow night.

He has taken stick over the quality of opponents he has faced so far. But Warren blasted: “Those having a go at Amir are idiots.

“Naseem Hamed took three years before he was ready for his first world-title fight, while Nigel Benn was 24 before he got a shot. Sugar Ray Robinson was kept waiting for his first world-title chance for six years.

“Amir is just 20. Saturday will be his 13th fight and I believe we push our youngsters in this country quicker than anybody else.

“So all this talk about Amir facing knockovers is absolute rubbish. I won’t sit back and listen to that kind of c**p.

“Amir will fight for a world title when myself and his team think it’s right. No amount of badgering by so-called experts will force him into doing anything else.”

Benn was 26, but then again he didn't start boxing seriously until he was 22 or almost 22. Amir's been boxing seriously since he was eight, and beat one of the all-time great amateurs in Kindelan a couple of years ago. He's been an international since he was about 14 I think - Benn never boxed as an international (I know he beat Rod Douglas).

Hatton was 26, too. But had been mixing in world class here and there since he was 22.

The problem is, the opponents so far have been there to roll over or hit with feathers. Hatton, to Warren's credit I suppose, had some tough journeymen and some young Mexicans to see off. Hamed also had some decent Mexicans when he was young. Benn, again to Warren's credit I suppose, had that Reggie Miller guy brought in at short notice who was still abit of a prospect himself (like those Mexicans Hatton had) but experienced with it and taught Benn an awful lot (although it all seemed to go out the window against Logan and Watson) and that was in his very first year as a pro. Amir's had none of that. Audley didn't either and look what happened, and that's a grown man. Froch had some toughies and it hasn't harmed him, has it? Limond is a step in the right direction though, I suppose, making up for lost time.

Robinson and Benn were kept waiting because they were feared. Khan has willing opponents queueing around the block; hell, I'd fight him for £500 and me bus fare home.

Hamed didn't take three years to reach championship standard, he was held back in order to line someone's pockets. Naz was capable after his first 18 months or so. The longer it takes for Amir to return to planet earth, the more damage is done to his career prospects. No carried boxer in history has overcome the psychological hurdle of coming back after a public humiliation.

Limond isn't the man to smash Khan to pieces, but others would, so if Amir doesn't constantly push himself against good opposition, he'll never reach the heights.

Grilling Machine wrote:Robinson and Benn were kept waiting because they were feared. Khan has willing opponents queueing around the block; hell, I'd fight him for £500 and me bus fare home.

Hamed didn't take three years to reach championship standard, he was held back in order to line someone's pockets. Naz was capable after his first 18 months or so. The longer it takes for Amir to return to planet earth, the more damage is done to his career prospects. No carried boxer in history has overcome the psychological hurdle of coming back after a public humiliation.

Limond isn't the man to smash Khan to pieces, but others would, so if Amir doesn't constantly push himself against good opposition, he'll never reach the heights.

it seems funny that warren has side steped past thaxton for the british title i wonder if it has to do with the fact that thaxton can throw a right hand after the jab im sure people would give khan and fwank a bit more respect if they put on the thaxton fight because until then kahn can not say he's the best light weight in the country

thaxton is british champ, you have to be 21 to fight for hte same

so in theory he aint side stepped him.......yet

sweetscience wrote:thaxton is british champ, you have to be 21 to fight for hte same

so in theory he aint side stepped him.......yet

you got me there my brain aint working at the moment do you think it will happen when he is 21 then

Frank Warrén wrote:
“Those having a go at Amir are idiots.

The same idiot's you now RELY on to buy into Setanta - Thanks to statement's like that I wont be lining your pocket and buying a Setanta subscription.

Who's the idiot now.

First off, I'm not into criticising Khan because he's still a baby in boxing terms. He barely even fought as a senior amateur ffs. however, there is getting him easy learning fights, and there is taking the piss. re the latter, i'm talking super featherweights who can't punch, and worst of all the Steffy Bull fight - Bull had already retired and his heart didn't appear to be in boxing again.

If Calzaghe and Macca hadn't had 'knockover' opponents - ie world title main event/main support - then ppl would have been more willing to let it drop.

Also, these middle aged newspaper columnists who heap praise on Khan that is out of proportion to what he's done (i.e. "That extraordinary boy") Khan stop it because they're idiots too.

STP wrote:Amir's been boxing seriously since he was eight, and beat one of the all-time great amateurs in Kindelan a couple of years ago.

Not all is quite what it seems £$£$£$£$

I've got no problem with Khan's opposition and I had no problem with Audley's (I'd even argue Audley's "apprenticeship" opponents were better than Khan's, pound-for-pound). It's only because they are so high profile that people expect more. Did Murray and Mitchell face better in their first 13 fights?

I do concede Khan's had a common theme of fighting light-punching smaller men (which describes Limond) but that's the only complaint.

The Audley thing was different. He was topping bills. The majority of viewers, who didn't know better, were led to believe that this was a world class heavyweight they were watching. This was as good as it got they thought. It was a shambles.

Khan is clearly a league above Harrison, and is still an undercard fighter.

oliverfennell wrote:I've got no problem with Khan's opposition and I had no problem with Audley's (I'd even argue Audley's "apprenticeship" opponents were better than Khan's, pound-for-pound). It's only because they are so high profile that people expect more. Did Murray and Mitchell face better in their first 13 fights?

I do concede Khan's had a common theme of fighting light-punching smaller men (which describes Limond) but that's the only complaint.

After Limmond, if we start getting Thaxton, Earl, Meager, Bami & so on there will be no more Audley comparisons.

sweetscience wrote:thaxton is british champ, you have to be 21 to fight for hte same

Is it? I thought you had to be 20 years old to contest British, Commonwealth & European titles. That is why Naz became European champ just aftre his 20th birthday isn't it? Why Ryan Rhodes was 20 when he won the Lonsdale title.....mind you they were a decade ago *shudder* has the rule changed?

I still think Khan should have swept-up the Central Area, English, and an Intercontinental title within his first 10 fights..... but some would say there is no point.

best wishes

"T.M.K"

id say there is no point with sentral & english titles

im happy enough with the commonwealth, then maybe british after two more bouts

I'll ask this question. Do we want to bring a prospect along to maximise his money making potential over in the present and over his career as a whole? Or do we want to prepare a fighter for greatness, or, at the least prepare him for stepping to world class?

If it's the former, nobody can ever, ever criticise allegedly who does a better job than any promoter, not just in Britain, but the world. If it's the latter, then the jury is still out, and Khan needs to maintain this level and higher once he beats Limmond, which he will.

He'll probably get a Ghanaian with a 7-2 record for his first defence, but after that I'm sure the upward curve will continue.

Khan is only 20 years old. Correct me if I'm worng, but I thought it was Amir's intention to be a world chmpion by the time he's 21. Who thinks he'll achieve that target?

Also, Tyson was same age as Khan when Mike was on top of the world boxing. Really puts the age-thing into perspective. Imagine what it must ahve been like to be 20 years old & a world champ!

That must have been a nice feeling!

Got nothing to criticise Khan about at the moment.

He's stepping up faster than Harrison did anyway.

All this FW bollocks about rushing kids.... what about how they prepare stars like Morales and Barrera? Khan will claim greatness or have it thrust upon him without half the fights Barrera has had.... I wouldnt call it rushing him - when in other countries they have mutliple world champions because they weed out rather than pad/protect

Twisted Transistor wrote:Got nothing to criticise Khan about at the moment.

He's stepping up faster than Harrison did anyway.

As long as Khan keeps momentum going and gradually steps up from here (i.e only fights winners from now on) then most people ought to be happy.

Audley Harrison is hardly the yardstick. 8)

Floyd Mayweather was world champ at 21.

Nigel Benn was being talked about in super-fight terms with lb4lb #1 Nunn in his second year as a pro.

Fwanks newspaper piece is just laughable..

To mention Khan in the same breath as Hamed, Benn and especially Robinson

And to say we in Britain push our youngsters faster than anywhere else...he obviously can`t be talking boxing....cos how old was Morales, Barrera and Castillo when they were at the real world stage

He ridiculed Audley for his attempt at the rise to the top...so why cry about it when he copies the same path with Khan.

People got pissed off with Audley because he talked shit ...when his fights provided all the shit we could take....and whats Khan doing now?..exactly the same

I don`t know how Khan gets to lightweight, and against the weak punching s-feathers he can get away with it...but when he fights a strong hard hitting lightweight he`s in trouble

Obviously prospects such as Amir are 'guided' to a degree but what I object to is the blatant bullying by constantly bringing in opposition smaller with a weight disadvantage.

If they were going through the usual journeymen routine against guys his own size (or heaven forbid a weight class above) I would be more understanding but his opposition are blatantly smaller than him.

Warren has hyped the nuts off Khan then gets touchy when people comment. Careful what you wish for Frank.... you might get it.

Warren and Khan are a couple of fannies, simple as that. And anyone who gets caught up in the hype is a fanny as well, there you go I've said it.
Both of these clowns in the paper saying that his opponents have NOT been hand picked, what a couple of complete bell-ends.
Amir in the paper "My opponents have been hard, I've not had any easy touches", man, what an absolute dreamer this guy is.