BoxRec

just saw this on ninemsn.com.au

A tug of war over the services of Australia's former junior lightweight world boxing champion Gairy St Clair is expected to end with him challenging Briton's rising star Amir Khan for the Commonwealth lightweight title in London next month.

St Clair, 32, was originally scheduled to fight Filipino Jun Paderna in Sydney on February 1.

However, an opportunity arose for St Clair to fight Khan on February 2, after the Englishman's original opponent Martin Kristjansen withdrew after coming down with influenza.

Athens Olympic silver medallist Khan has an unblemished professional record of 15-0 with 12 KOs.

St Clair's manager Angelo Hyder was trying to contact the promoters of the February 1 Sydney show to notify them of his boxer's intention to take up the offer to fight Khan.

While Hyder didn't want to burn bridges with the local boxing community, he stressed St Clair's South African based promoter Branco Milenkovic had the final say on whether his boxer fought in Sydney or London.

"He is definitely going to take the fight in England, it is a massive opportunity," Hyder said.

"It's a 50-50 fight and Gairy is a former world champion and he needs the opportunity to get himself back there.

"He (Khan) is very skilled and Gairy knows that's it's a fight he's got to win."

The 21-year-old Briton said St Clair's record looked very impressive and he wanted to be the first fighter to stop the Guyana-born Sydney-based boxer.

"He has been in with some great names like Vivian Harris and Diego Corrales, if he has made these two go the distance, then I know I've got a hard fight on my hands," Khan said on the allegedly.tv website.

St Clair (39-5, 17 KOs) has only lost in either world title bouts or to fighters who went on to win a world title.

Khan's promoter allegedly acknowledged St Clair would be the toughest test yet for his much touted fighter.

"St Clair is certainly a big step up for Amir and the toughest opponent that he has faced in his career so far," Warren said.

"He is a former world champion and would be a great scalp for Amir's CV."

it would be a great fight,big fan off Gairy St Clair hope he can pull off a big win.

What do you Aussies think of St Clair?

Asterix wrote:What do you Aussies think of St Clair?

I haven't seen his last few fights but I am a big fan. He is a great boxer with the heart of a lion. He hasn't got the most power in the world (which I assume is why Khan has agreed to fight him) but he will land plenty of leather on Khan. I think he will push the fight with Khan and really unsettle him. It should be a great battle and if St Clair is as good as he was a few years ago he should have to much for Khan.

Asterix wrote:What do you Aussies think of St Clair?

He is a really good boxer. He was originally bought over here as a sparring partner for Kostya Tsyzu because he needed a quick southpaw to spar with. St Clair is orthodox but he was so flexible that neither Johnny Lewis or Kostya realized he wasn't a natural southpaw.

I haven't seen Khan fight but I have heard good things about him, I reckon this will be a great fight.

Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly.

calmac66 wrote:

Asterix wrote:What do you Aussies think of St Clair?

He is a really good boxer. He was originally bought over here as a sparring partner for Kostya Tsyzu because he needed a quick southpaw to spar with. St Clair is orthodox but he was so flexible that neither Johnny Lewis or Kostya realized he wasn't a natural southpaw.

I haven't seen Khan fight but I have heard good things about him, I reckon this will be a great fight.

Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly allegedly.

Haha, that started a while ago, it atoumaticly happens if you type in FW's name

St Clair is always fit, and always hard to hit. His punch output is high, and unless he is fighting top notch opponents, his fights can look like boxing lessons.

calmac66 wrote:

Asterix wrote:
Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly allegedly.

This link should provide the answer

http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16861

allegedly got a little upset with some of the comments posted on the Boxrec UK board. As you can see he actually threatened legal action if these comments continued as it would affect is business dealings in the UK.

ra2006 wrote:

calmac66 wrote:

Asterix wrote:
Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly allegedly allegedly.

This link should provide the answer

http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16861

allegedly allegedly got a little upset with some of the comments posted on the Boxrec UK board. As you can see he actually threatened legal action if these comments continued as it would affect is business dealings in the UK.

hahaha each time you quote it you get another "allegedly"

thunderfromdownunder wrote:

calmac66 wrote:

Asterix wrote:What do you Aussies think of St Clair?

He is a really good boxer. He was originally bought over here as a sparring partner for Kostya Tsyzu because he needed a quick southpaw to spar with. St Clair is orthodox but he was so flexible that neither Johnny Lewis or Kostya realized he wasn't a natural southpaw.

I haven't seen Khan fight but I have heard good things about him, I reckon this will be a great fight.

Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly allegedly allegedly.

Haha, that started a while ago, it atoumaticly happens if you type in FW's name

hahahaha four allegedly.

calmac66 wrote:

thunderfromdownunder wrote:

calmac66 wrote: He is a really good boxer. He was originally bought over here as a sparring partner for Kostya Tsyzu because he needed a quick southpaw to spar with. St Clair is orthodox but he was so flexible that neither Johnny Lewis or Kostya realized he wasn't a natural southpaw.

I haven't seen Khan fight but I have heard good things about him, I reckon this will be a great fight.

Also what does it mean that Khans promoter is "allegedly" allegedly allegedly allegedly allegedly.

Haha, that started a while ago, it atoumaticly happens if you type in FW's name

hahahaha four allegedly.

couldn't help myself

toppity wrote:

calmac66 wrote:

thunderfromdownunder wrote: Haha, that started a while ago, it atoumaticly happens if you type in FW's name

hahahaha four allegedly.

couldn't help myself

No worries

By the way, I am a pommie and moved to Syders quite recently.

A few of us on UK board used to go to boxing events in London, but as I have a seriously lack of like minded mates in Sydney who are not interested in the slightest I am wandering if this members of this board arrange meet ups if there is an event in Sydney.

If there is a group, can I tag along? I am desperate to see some live boxing, and I refuse to go along looking like billy no mates!!!

ra2006 wrote:By the way, I am a pommie and moved to Syders quite recently.

A few of us on UK board used to go to boxing events in London, but as I have a seriously lack of like minded mates in Sydney who are not interested in the slightest I am wandering if this members of this board arrange meet ups if there is an event in Sydney.

If there is a group, can I tag along? I am desperate to see some live boxing, and I refuse to go along looking like billy no mates!!!

Howdy. Can't help you with the boxing get togethers I'm afraid as I'm 500 miles south, in Melbourne. But I suggest you NOT get yerself along to any of Anthony Mundine's fights. His opposition is worse than Nigel's Benn's early career opposition of......."Mexican road sweepers" (Nigel's own words )

p.s. Khan seems to be plodding along in his career. The Athens olympics were over 3 years ago now. It seems to me if they've chosen St Clair as an opponent then they think he's 'safe'

bollox wrote:

ra2006 wrote:By the way, I am a pommie and moved to Syders quite recently.

A few of us on UK board used to go to boxing events in London, but as I have a seriously lack of like minded mates in Sydney who are not interested in the slightest I am wandering if this members of this board arrange meet ups if there is an event in Sydney.

If there is a group, can I tag along? I am desperate to see some live boxing, and I refuse to go along looking like billy no mates!!!

Howdy. Can't help you with the boxing get togethers I'm afraid as I'm 500 miles south, in Melbourne. But I suggest you NOT get yerself along to any of Anthony Mundine's fights. His opposition is worse than Nigel's Benn's early career opposition of......."Mexican road sweepers" (Nigel's own words )

p.s. Khan seems to be plodding along in his career. The Athens olympics were over 3 years ago now. It seems to me if they've chosen St Clair as an opponent then they think he's 'safe'

khan's camp seen gary's 4 rds against robert oyan,of that effort they would think they could stop gary,it was below par for a fighter of gary's class,oyan's record speaks for it's self

ra2006 wrote:By the way, I am a pommie and moved to Syders quite recently.

A few of us on UK board used to go to boxing events in London, but as I have a seriously lack of like minded mates in Sydney who are not interested in the slightest I am wandering if this members of this board arrange meet ups if there is an event in Sydney.

If there is a group, can I tag along? I am desperate to see some live boxing, and I refuse to go along looking like billy no mates!!!

The posters on here are all fairly spread out, WA, QLD, Vic, NSW so we don't have get togethers. You shouldn't let that stop you from going to the boxing though!!!

yeah if Aus was the size of england i would be in favour of meet ups, but as marlin said, we are all over the place like a mad womens shit.

back to kahn-st clair, i think kahn will be too quick and strong for gary

thunderfromdownunder wrote:back to kahn-st clair, i think kahn will be too quick and strong for gary

Maybe but how will he do with Gairy? :P

Like I said I haven't seen St Clair in his last few fights but previous to that there is nothing that tells me St clair won't be able to figure Khan out...

Let us not forget that St. Clair is a former World champion. He should not be taken lightly.

Brute wrote:Let us not forget that St. Clair is a former World champion. He should not be taken lightly.

Very true mate. I know he is going up in weight but I still think the talk on the British forum about Khan scoring a quick stoppage is ridiculous...

St. Clair has not been knocked out in his entire career. Khan would do well to KO him early.

ra2006 wrote:By the way, I am a pommie and moved to Syders quite recently.

A few of us on UK board used to go to boxing events in London, but as I have a seriously lack of like minded mates in Sydney who are not interested in the slightest I am wandering if this members of this board arrange meet ups if there is an event in Sydney.

If there is a group, can I tag along? I am desperate to see some live boxing, and I refuse to go along looking like billy no mates!!!

Whereabouts in Sydney do you live?

I don't think Amir Khan will knock him out early. I think Khan will get some good experience from this fight.

Asterix wrote:I don't think Amir Khan will knock him out early. I think Khan will get some good experience from this fight.

Have only seen St Clair once a while back, but have never seen Khan, so based only on what I hve read St Clair would have to be in with a chance ? Has he sliied lately ? what is the weight difference ?
Khan Team wd be backing a distance fight, I agree and learning experence but is it to much of a step for the young prospect >???

ross

Ross, I've only seen some footage of St Clair training and versus Diego Corrales, which was in 1998!

But based on that and the statistics (there is a size difference), I would say that it's not too much of a step up, in the sense that I believe Khan will win. Khan is very fast and powerful, and is obviously a good boxer as evidenced in the Olympics and pro fights to date. The main worries are the claims of his "lack of chin" (he was knocked down once by a light puncher), but I'm personally not too worried about that as I believe he won't make the mistake again. The mistake was basically getting too hyped up for the occasion and hanging his chin out for the punch.

Records: Amir Kahn - Gairy St Clair

p.s. I like Michael Katsidis and I hope he faces Amir Khan in the future. I think it could be a great fight.