BoxRec

Hey guys, as we all know, Amir says he thinks he should go after a world title fight within his next 5 fights...

I, personally, think this is well above his capabilities! he is an excellent boxer, but is far too inexperianced and young.

For a title, he'll have to fight Diaz, who IMO is in a different league.

Then we have Pacman who is said to be coming up to lightweight - again, in a whole different league to kahn!

Maybe in a few years when he has built his strength and experiance, but in the next 5 fights???? i dont think so!

What do you guys think?

FW is in a tricky position. Khan's said he's ready but I doubt FW will agree. He might win a monir title in his next five fights but no way is he ready for Diaz etc yet. It's unfair to expect him to be ready yet.

He needs to get some testing learning fights under his belt in the next two years. It's a pity TV is obsessed with titles as imo it'd be a better long term move for him to face some tough US/Mexican journeymen.

The lad has real talent. Saturday was the best I've seen him although of course there were areas he can improve on. He needs time out of the spotlight to learn his craft. In the long term it'll help him.

No way is Khan ready. There's no rush, although he does need to be fighting people that can test him in some way i.e. can dig, are natural at the weight, can take his shots and extend him into the late rounds...

Incidentally, did anyone see the documentary on Khan the other night? allegedly was telling the press that De La Hoya was floored 3 times in his first title fight What's he on about????

There's no rush, he's still improving, but I can't see a problem with him fighting for a world title in about 18 months.....

He relies on speed and power, how much more is he going to learn? He's got a great trainer, top attitude and works hard.

5 fights is maybe a tad to quick but sometime in 2009 would be fine IMO. What do we want him to do/ wait until he's mid-twenties? He is quick as hell and with his amateur experience I think he could do it.

5 fights for the european title is realistic I think (depending on a continued improvement) maybe 3 defences of that down the line he'll be ready for a world shot.

Remember Haye and Froch turned pro 5 years ago and are only realy seriouse title contenders now and they had much more ametre experiance so the idea of 2 years is just a little optemistic.

Where can I bet that Khan will never be world champion?

A betting shopmight be a good starting point...

They wont take the bet because they know i'm right!

you would probably have to put a time limet on that otherwise you could have to waight a while to collect your winnings so your could probably get odds on weather Khan will be a world champion by 2009

Red Medicine wrote:He's certainly ready for a British-level champ.

yeah.

Khan won't be ready in 5 fights time to claim a World Title...

He tucked up much better against Lawton and look far more solid (even if Lawton was a Statue)...

He's ready now to mix it with the Best of British, but I also think it's a five year plan for him (from his debut) before he is truly ready to take on the best around his weight class.

He should go for the British, then maybe make a defense of that, then the European then the world. He needs about 5 more fights before he goes for a world title, imo, against a variety of styles of opponent. Even then he would probably have to go for one of the weaker belt-holders first.

glahn wrote:He should go for the British, then maybe make a defense of that, then the European then the world. He needs about 5 more fights before he goes for a world title, imo, against a variety of styles of opponent. Even then he would probably have to go for one of the weaker belt-holders first.

He'd be better of having 4 fights around brit and commonwealth fights befor a euro title in my view then maybe a couple of decent defences. That would be the point at which he's ready to maybe challenge. I htink talk of 5 is just a bit ambitiouse.

What Khan needs is opposition that offers more resistance and can take him into the championship rounds. It is here that he will find out whether the form he shows early holds up into the later rounds. If it doesn’t and he flags then that will inform him, more than any trainer telling him, that he needs to slow it down. This will be very valuable learning experience for him. Khan, like his career, is in too much of a hurry in trying to get the job done and it is here that he could come a cropper.

A more measured pace behind the jab opening up his opponent with quick and heavy shots can then be followed up with flurries. I just want to see him hold his feet a bit more at range and not force the fight too much because this is where his defensive vulnerability comes into play. He has quick feet that lack subtlety and his forward straight line momentum brings him right into his opponent’s range for short counters and/or crowding his own work. This accompanied with the fact that his chin is often exposed could be kamikaze against someone who can dig.

I don’t want to appear too hard on the lad as I think he is a terrific talent and Saturday night was a very good win for him. I agree with all the posters that state that he shouldn’t be looking for a world title shot within the next 18 months. Defences of the Commonwealth, bringing in some tough South Amercans/Eastern Europeans and fighting for the British/European title should be the plan for the next couple of years.

5 fights is too soon. He should look to fight Earl and then Thaxton. If he has world level ambitions he should be beating those two. Then once they are out of the way maybe another defence or two of the British/Commonwealth then go after the European. I know he's in a hurry to win a world title but you don't go from the Limond's/Lawton's of the world to the best in the division in 5 fights particuarly at such a young age. Another 10 fights wouldn't hurt before a world title crack.

nickd wrote: Another 10 fights wouldn't hurt before a world title crack.

That's the number of fights I would have in mind for him. Let him mature and complete his learning curve whilst gaining valuable experience against some tough opponents that offer resistance and longer fights. It's a leap from punching through guys at domestic level and fighting world class opponents. It has to be a gradual process.

What's the fooking rush anyway. I hope that FW and Harrison can get this notion that Khan has of fighting for a world title within 5 fights out of his head.

SticknMove wrote:

nickd wrote: Another 10 fights wouldn't hurt before a world title crack.

That's the number of fights I would have in mind for him. Let him mature and complete his learning curve whilst gaining valuable experience against some tough opponents that offer resistance and longer fights. It's a leap from punching through guys at domestic level and fighting world class opponents. It has to be a gradual process.

What's the fooking rush anyway. I hope that FW and Harrison can get this notion that Khan has of fighting for a world title within 5 fights out of his head.

Let's be honest Hatton was babied for a long time by FW I am sure this is going to take longer than Khan expects at this stage. If they somehow get him the WBO title of course they could as good as pick and choose who he fights for a while.

nickd wrote:

SticknMove wrote:

nickd wrote: Another 10 fights wouldn't hurt before a world title crack.

That's the number of fights I would have in mind for him. Let him mature and complete his learning curve whilst gaining valuable experience against some tough opponents that offer resistance and longer fights. It's a leap from punching through guys at domestic level and fighting world class opponents. It has to be a gradual process.

What's the fooking rush anyway. I hope that FW and Harrison can get this notion that Khan has of fighting for a world title within 5 fights out of his head.

Let's be honest Hatton was babied for a long time by FW I am sure this is going to take longer than Khan expects at this stage. If they somehow get him the WBO title of course they could as good as pick and choose who he fights for a while.

Yep I think that FW's experience is a perfect antidote for Khan's youthful enthusiasm and exuberance.

nickd wrote:Let's be honest Hatton was babied for a long time by FW I am sure this is going to take longer than Khan expects at this stage. If they somehow get him the WBO title of course they could as good as pick and choose who he fights for a while.

hatton was a beast.

he was good enuff to step up years ago.

khan on the other hand needs guiding very carefully.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

nickd wrote:Let's be honest Hatton was babied for a long time by FW I am sure this is going to take longer than Khan expects at this stage. If they somehow get him the WBO title of course they could as good as pick and choose who he fights for a while.

hatton was a beast.

he was good enuff to step up years ago.

khan on the other hand needs guiding very carefully.

In hindsight I think Hatton was held back a little too long, but if he'd stepped up sooner he'd have had a shorter career with his style. If he beats Mayweather in December can we really say he hasn't done things the right way?

nickd wrote:

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

nickd wrote:Let's be honest Hatton was babied for a long time by FW I am sure this is going to take longer than Khan expects at this stage. If they somehow get him the WBO title of course they could as good as pick and choose who he fights for a while.

hatton was a beast.

he was good enuff to step up years ago.

khan on the other hand needs guiding very carefully.

In hindsight I think Hatton was held back a little too long, but if he'd stepped up sooner he'd have had a shorter career with his style. If he beats Mayweather in December can we really say he hasn't done things the right way?

I agree with both of you on all points. Was Hatton ready to step it up at the 24 fight point in his career? Well maybe. Bearing in mind he came through some sticky moments too (Magee springs to mind immediately). But they're different fighters and I suspect that Khan may need more careful guidance to reach his potential. I think that some on this forum will need more patience when it comes to Khan and not get dragged into forming an opinion based on the peripheral hype surrounding him and his own youthful utterences.

I think the main thing holding Khan back at the moment is his chin. Warren knows it because he keeps putting him in there with non punchers. Offensively he is excellent and can finish people. He's not really had anyone get in there and properly hit him bar Limond and even he wasn't much of a puncher.
I think throwing him in there with Earl is a good move. If he tucks up and defends well then he could be ready in five fights. I'd like to see him fight someone like Katsidis if he gets past Earl and maybe Thaxton. He'd punch back and if Khan beats him then he really is ready. I don't think he should be worried about losing. He could learn a lot from a defeat.
The fight I would really like to see him in is against Anthony Peterson but not much chance of that.

whatashambles wrote:I think the main thing holding Khan back at the moment is his chin. Warren knows it because he keeps putting him in there with non punchers. Offensively he is excellent and can finish people. He's not really had anyone get in there and properly hit him bar Limond and even he wasn't much of a puncher.
I think throwing him in there with Earl is a good move. If he tucks up and defends well then he could be ready in five fights. I'd like to see him fight someone like Katsidis if he gets past Earl and maybe Thaxton. He'd punch back and if Khan beats him then he really is ready. I don't think he should be worried about losing. He could learn a lot from a defeat.
The fight I would really like to see him in is against Anthony Peterson but not much chance of that.

Katsidis would slaughter him, Khan has no chin and Katsidis is one of the hardest punching 135 pounders, Khan would be better off at 140 Malinaggi has no power whatsoever and Khan would stand a good chance against the other champs as well.

Before Enzo Calzaghe took on Maccarinelli, the Welshman was regarded as a bit easy to hit and chinny.
No one thought that he would do as well as he has done now.
You can't build muscle on chin but you can become more defensively astute.
Furthermore Calzaghe is a slave driver in the gym, all his fighters are superbly conditioned.
I think a change of camp is what Khan needs beause he will be too vunerable at top level and has not showed sighns of improvement in this area.
If Enzo Calzaghe can improve Khan in the same way as Macca, both fighters with similar probs, I believe Khan can be a genuine champion as he is super talented

I think you are right with the chainge of camp thing, he makes the same mistakes fight after fight. I could see the KD comming well befor the Limmond fight because he left his chin out when he got over excited. However Oliver H didn't correct it until he took a KD.

I don't think it'd be a bad idea to send him to the UNite States there he'll be Amir who and can be in a gym with the best sparing and get the best training.