BoxRec

After allegedly lauded Amir as having the potential to be as good as Sugar Ray Leonard if he continues to progress at the same pace into his mid twenties, I just wondered how good a prospect people think he actually is.

I heard a guy who saw him from a 14 year old in Bury/Bolton, describe him as being on a totally different level to any fighter he'd ever seen - even beating and bullying significantly older Amateur Champions at that age who have since turned pro and been succesful (naming no names).

They described it as like seeing a young Ryan Giggs play football - everyone knows kids who were good at an early age - but this kid was obviously an entirely different level.

I know there were one or two Q marks over him after the Limond fight, but I felt that was due to him still being young, inexperienced and a little over eager. Most importantly he showed great heart that night and against Earl his speed, accuracy and power was exceptional. (shame he can't master his BMW quite so effectively )

I think he's way ahead of where we might have expected him to be after his Olympic exploits, and he still seems to be gaining in physical stauture......so just wondered what poeples predictions are for how far he'll go, what weight he'll finish up at, who would be potential good future world class match ups for him.......and if ultimately he'll be Leonard class or just another over hyped olympic celebrity???

Hard to know how good he will turn out to be, but the Limmond fight was the most significant fight of his career so far and the one where he'd have learnt from more than any other. He seems to be getting a lot stronger now already and at times can look explosive as he did against Earl. I think he will definitely win a major world title and certainly has the potential to be considered top ten P4P within three years from now. He appears to have skills, speed, strength and power, not sure yet about the chin. I don't think anybody can say for sure that he's weak chinned because a lot of fighters get hurt/dropped early in their careers. I think it's the biggest question mark over him as it hasn't been tested enough yet but it's far too early to be heralding a prospect like Khan as "the next" Leonard or anybody else. It also depends on Khan himself and how he is managed by Warren. If he keeps seeking challenges and advancing in that way he has massive potential, but if he's too carefully matched in order to stay undefeated he could end up coasting too much and missing out on the biggest tests during his peak.

he was perfect for the amateurs.

very fast and nimble on his feet.

not sure about him in terms of world class pro boxing.

he lacks a big punch and that flurrying style of his has me even more worried. coupled with his chin not looking the best.

He's better than Audley Harrison. As to how good, well, that's up for grabs.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:he was perfect for the amateurs.

very fast and nimble on his feet.

not sure about him in terms of world class pro boxing.

he lacks a big punch and that flurrying style of his has me even more worried. coupled with his chin not looking the best.

Don't think you can say he lacks a big punch yet. He's definately still growing and getting stronger and a certain Mr G Earl might want to argue that point with you :)

Will be interesting to see how Q marks over his chin turn out though.

Ricky Hatton's chin didn't look great when he was floored by Mayweather, but perhaps it was just because it was a good shot? Same with Amir Khan getting floored by Limond. Does Ricky Hatton also have a suspect chin?

Just some food for thought.

Asterix wrote:Ricky Hatton's chin didn't look great when he was floored by Mayweather, but perhaps it was just because it was a good shot? Same with Amir Khan getting floored by Limond. Does Ricky Hatton also have a suspect chin?

Just some food for thought.

hatton had taken a shitload before finally going.

u gotta keep chopping on hatton.

and hatton has always been more bothered by speed than pure power.

tszyu and castillo gave him next to no problems.

statistically there both bigger hitters than floyd and collazo.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:

Asterix wrote:Ricky Hatton's chin didn't look great when he was floored by Mayweather, but perhaps it was just because it was a good shot? Same with Amir Khan getting floored by Limond. Does Ricky Hatton also have a suspect chin?

Just some food for thought.

hatton had taken a shitload before finally going.

u gotta keep chopping on hatton.

and hatton has always been more bothered by speed than pure power.

tszyu and castillo gave him next to no problems.

statistically there both bigger hitters than floyd and collazo.

I think the most important factor was the weight he fought the guys who troubled him at.

He fought both Floyd and Collazo at 147, whereas he fought the elder statesmen at 140 and had no bother with either of them (mainly because he smothered both of them and was physically stronger in the holds).

More proof I think that he needs to stay at LW.

I'm hopeful Amir is still growing into his body :)

If Willie Limond can hurt you then you've got a bad chin.

End of story.

too good to get compared to Audley Harrison thanks very much.

Khan = Exceptionally quick, powerful, and all of the other necessary athletic attributes.

However, I think his style is his main attribute, and I seriously doubt whether he has enough defensive skills and ring savvy to alter his style/tactics in hard fights how someone like Mayweather did for instance. I don't think ringsmarts and intelligence are among his attributes, put it that way.

I remember speaking to Don Broadhurst's old amatuer trainer Tony Ryan about the then 17 tr old Khan who had just graduated to the full England squad.

Ryan couldnt speak highly enough of the Bolton wonderboy's skills - a class apart from all other squad members.

There is no doubt in my mind that his level of talent sets him apart from the vast majority of fighters. Lets just hope he has the chin, mental toughness and insatiable drive to succeed that he will need to graduate to the same level as a fighter such as Leonard.

TerribleTerry wrote:I remember speaking to Don Broadhurst's old amatuer trainer Tony Ryan about the then 17 tr old Khan who had just graduated to the full England squad.

Ryan couldnt speak highly enough of the Bolton wonderboy's skills - a class apart from all other squad members.

There is no doubt in my mind that his level of talent sets him apart from the vast majority of fighters. Lets just hope he has the chin, mental toughness and insatiable drive to succeed that he will need to graduate to the same level as a fighter such as Leonard.

Sorry, but I think you've misused the word "skills".

Khan as an amateur was basically a buzzsaw who hit too hard and quick for his opponents. His ABILITIES are amazing. Skills average, imo.

Southpaw Stylist wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:I remember speaking to Don Broadhurst's old amatuer trainer Tony Ryan about the then 17 tr old Khan who had just graduated to the full England squad.

Ryan couldnt speak highly enough of the Bolton wonderboy's skills - a class apart from all other squad members.

There is no doubt in my mind that his level of talent sets him apart from the vast majority of fighters. Lets just hope he has the chin, mental toughness and insatiable drive to succeed that he will need to graduate to the same level as a fighter such as Leonard.

Sorry, but I think you've misused the word "skills".

Khan as an amateur was basically a buzzsaw who hit too hard and quick for his opponents. His ABILITIES are amazing. Skills average, imo.

I hear what you are saying - it was more his physical skills that were astonishing whilst still in a vest, even if his technique was still somewhat unrefined.

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:too good to get compared to Audley Harrison thanks very much.

Wasn't seriously comparing him to Audley - just playing devil's advocate.

I personally think the guy has all the attributes to go right the way to the top, if he continues to learn, apply himself and is managed in the right way, so that he's tested at every stage of his career. I personally think that to beat Limond, Earl etc at such a young age is a great start to his career and way ahead of where anyone could have expected him to be. He's just 21!!!

What I like about him is how fearless he is, and how his camp appear to be pushing FW to progress him at a real pace. I think throwing him in at the deep end in a world title shot in the next couple of years would be a refreshing change to the usual strategy for building a career under FW.

If he wins, great. If not, then it would be a great early benchmark for him of what he needs to aspire to in terms of ringcraft, heart and tactics.

fair play pal

i can't be doing with these knockers he has. he's shown he can hit, box, fight and comes across well on TV.
and I hear what you say although I wouldn't throw him in with anyone too accomplished unduly early just to get knocked around.....all this youngest this and youngest that.......i don't frankly see the point.
he's a real talent we should be proud to have representing our country, I for one think he has the potential to one day be a genuine world champion. In fact I'm sure of it.

I agree mate - no point in trying to beat Naseem's record just for the sake of it. If he's ready and the right fight is out there for him, then why not. But whether he breaks the record or not, I'm sure he's destined for great things too. Don't think there will be too many who can live with his hand speed. IMO certainly not Thaxton.

Fck me I found the other boxrec poster that thinks Khan can beat Thaxton - we should form a club.
Thaxton was motoring along quite convincingly against Meager and Lawton up until Stewart when he got away with the fact that Stewart was a relatively light hitter. Khan is not a light hitter and if Jon starts off like that it'll be curtains for him.

And you could say what's the benefit in becoming the youngest this or that and point to Mike Tyson - ok I'm no historian but I know he wasn't far off it........but I think that was America and we were talking about Heavyweights it's a different ballgame. Khan might as well wait til he's more rounded and look better doing it than jumping in too soon.

One things for sure......if Amir Khan ever went down for nearly recklessly taking a man's life, I would not expect to see him leave the prison gates in a limo to a load of gawdy rap music and clever smirking like some, if you know what I mean.

To answer the first few words of the thread title:

Amir Khan has the offensive skills to trouble anyone - he also has a number of defensive qualities which have improved.

One thing that worries me is his capacity to take a shot - a lot of people will say when you get smacked on the chin your legs will do a dance and some may even hit the canvas.

The fight that really worries me is the Willie Limmond - Willie was bought in because he was an obvious experience and has been in with a number of reasonable fighters - but the key issue was I am positive Sportsntwork thought he was a non puncher.

A non puncher decking the future star of British Boxing is a little worrying to say the least and when you step up to world class level you are bound to get hit in the whiskers department - therein lies my concern about Khan.

Everything else is okay and on course for Khan to do well - but how good are his whiskers.

Spud wrote:One thing that worries me is his capacity to take a shot - a lot of people will say when you get smacked on the chin your legs will do a dance and some may even hit the canvas.

The fight that really worries me is the Willie Limmond - Willie was bought in because he was an obvious experience and has been in with a number of reasonable fighters - but the key issue was I am positive Sportsntwork thought he was a non puncher.

A non puncher decking the future star of British Boxing is a little worrying to say the least and when you step up to world class level you are bound to get hit in the whiskers department - therein lies my concern about Khan.

Exactly. He was brought in to be a well known, but non-punching challenger.

if he dont reach superstardom, i cant see where are next one is coming from

I dont quite see him being the next sugar ray leonard but I do see him being a genuine world champ. I think people read into the floored by Limond a bit too much - plenty of champs got floored by "light hitters" on their way up. Take Oscar De la Hoya - floored by two light-hitting Journeymen early in his career - but now you definitely couldnt label Oscar as chinny. Also Juan Diaz - the main man at lightweight - was floored by Contreas but look what he's gone on to achieve. I'm not saying Khan isnt chinny but what Im trying to say is give the guy a chance!

I think Khan will now go to the top, I was quite impressed with the power he showed against Earl...his chin is suspect and it wasn't just against Limond, there were two occassions prior that he got clocked and it showed!

Khan will go down but that certainly doesn't mean out...he will be a ligitimate great champion at this rate as I believe he is very near ready for anyone.

My only hope is he really fights the fights that count...not like the careers od RJJ, B-Hop, or Calzaghe...give us the defining fights "IF" a fighter is the best, "fight em!"

Southpaw Stylist wrote: Khan as an amateur was basically a buzzsaw who hit too hard and quick for his opponents. His ABILITIES are amazing. Skills average, imo.

How are you distinguishing between skills and abilities?

Its difficult to imagine Sugar Ray being down and almost out against someone like Willie Limmond.

Khan has a suspect chin, neither Lawton or Earl managed to land a clean blow to expose this but credit Amir for two fabulous performances. He's a very gifted boy but someone in and around world level will expose his fragile jaw.