BoxRec

Toughen up: Khan must ditch family comforts if he wants to be champ, says Haye

By Peter Higgs

Amir Khan, recovering from his crushing 54-second knockout by Breidis Prescott, has been urged to turn himself into a tougher boxer by shunning the celebrity limelight that has increasingly engulfed his career.

David Haye, Britain's world cruiserweight champion, believes Khan, the former Olympic silver medallist, must escape his comfort zone if he is to recover from last week's defeat by Prescott.

All over: Khan lies slumped in the corner of the ring

Londoner Haye has a special interest in the Bolton boxer's future after helping to arrange for Jorge Rubio to become Khan's new trainer, a move heavily criticised in the wake of the defeat last weekend.

Yet Haye was surprised that, instead of moving to the United States to take advantage of the Cuban's set-up in Florida, the 21-year-old prospect stayed with his family in Lancashire.

'Amir's got to get serious and make some sacrifices,' said Haye. 'He needs and someone I would recommend to anybody,' said Haye. 'I truly believed he could take Amir to the next level.

'Amir needs to come out of his comfort zone. I'm sure he loves having his family around him, but he needs to realise boxing is a dangerous business and sacrifices need to be made.

'When I decided to step up to worldclass level, I went out to Miami and lived there alone. I took my gum shield, boxing boots and a pair of gloves.

'Amir has too many commitments away from boxing. He needs to find a little flat in Miami and live a life where to be out of the public eye because I'm sure that's affecting his training.

'Opening clubs, visiting awards ceremonies and mingling with celebrities means nothing if you get knocked out in your next fight.'

Rubio has come under scrutiny for failing to improve Khan's defence and selecting an opponent with too much punching power. But Haye backs the trainer to help Khan overcome his deficiencies, including a suspect chin.

'When I recommended Jorge Rubio to the Khan family, I told them he was someone I'd worked with in the past he's going to the gym, going home, eating and sleeping. I know how Amir feels now. He'll be hurting and he'll want to just disappear down a hole for year.

'He's a good boxer with great speed, timing, reflexes and punch variation, but he's not Marvin Hagler. He needs to make some adjustments.'

Khan plans to take a holiday before going back into the gym for his next fight in December.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/others ... -Haye.html

I couldn't agree more, and plenty of guys on here have said the same thing.

I agree but could you really see amir in a flat on his own? noway! I bet he cant even turn on a washing machine let alone live on his own.

well if he wants to be world champ..he has to wake up, and that loss last week will make him least important in the eyes of the media spotlight..its a blessing in my view.
I wonder if his sponsors have reacted at all?

Suprised Haye was able to be so remote In a city like Miami though. I'm sure they were pics of him after the fights but there was loads of party pics on his myspace of him In Miami getting his vice on.

It doesn't matter whether Khan has 1,000 family members around him 24 hours a day, or banishes them from ever speaking to him again.....it won't make a difference to his chin.

It's not even just that - he gets hit too much also. A man with a bad chin who gets hit = a KO.....

emma wrote:I agree but could you really see amir in a flat on his own? noway! I bet he cant even turn on a washing machine let alone live on his own.

If I hadnt seen your name beside your comments I would still have been sure it was a woman behind them. You are probably right though.

I think Khan needs the whole setup. Mum and Dad, the family, and the place where he worships. It must be hard for an Asian fighter these things are so important to them. As Emma says could he look after himself if he went off to America. Haye did what was right for him and it brought him success, fair enough, but I dont think it would work for Khan. I agree Khan needs to dedicate himself to his sport rather than play the celeb. That said I dont think he will make it to the top whatever he does. No matter how quick your reflexes are, or how tight your defense is, you will still catch big punches at the higher level, and you have to be able to take them. Its not just the chin, I am pretty certain Limond caught him with a temple shot. I think we have another Olympian who just wont make it to world level but at least Khan is willing to fight. The thing is he cant take any fight for granted now. Prescott was not in his class as a boxer and Khan over confident as always didnt respect Prescotts ability to land heavy punches. Prescott knew Khan would storm in and leave his chin unprotected which is why he was so confident of not only winning but taking Khan out. Khan not only fights like an amateur, to a large degree, he thinks like an amateur as well. Had he used his boxing skills and somehow avoided Prescotts bombs he would have won, because Prescott could never have outboxed him. Prescott isnt among the elite who could beat Khan on points. Prescott was a tough lad who saw Khans flaws and exploited them, simple as that.

E wrote:It doesn't matter whether Khan has 1,000 family members around him 24 hours a day, or banishes them from ever speaking to him again.....it won't make a difference to his chin.

It's not even just that - he gets hit too much also. A man with a bad chin who gets hit = a KO.....

totally agree. imo i think hes finished.

Wouldn't it be crazy if Haye had cooked up some kind of deal with Rubio to infiltrate Team Khan and push him towards a dangerous opponent. Rubio gets a small share of Hayemaker Promotions and Haye gets his alleged competition in the dire predicament of being in need of a new star to fleece the public with.

Genius.

charlieb wrote:Wouldn't it be crazy if Haye had cooked up some kind of deal with Rubio to infiltrate Team Khan and push him towards a dangerous opponent. Rubio gets a small share of Hayemaker Promotions and Haye gets his alleged competition in the dire predicament of being in need of a new star to fleece the public with.

Genius.

believe it or not, my warped mind had this tiny speculation also..LOL..
but no way jose!!

It's too little too late in my opinion...but the advice is right.

its like what happened to hamed.

its a cultural thing though, muslim families normally always stick together and refuse to seperate...thats why hameds career turned to shit, riath was feeding him BS and brainwashing him

Unfortunately I think Khan is finished.

He should retire - if Willie Limond can have you 'out' then you have no business at World Level.

He should try for the British/European and 1 more KO loss he should retire.

Its a dangerous sport and he is fragile with a capital F.

I got to agree with DG.

The problem is his chin .. it looks as if even domestic level punches turn his legs to jelly.
From being the next British legend/multi weight champ/p4p great .. its now gone to a world title belt holder .. just about any half decent boxer with the right connections can do that .. except maybe if they don`t have a half decent chin.

As for living on his own
How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

tonyevs wrote:I got to agree with DG.

The problem is his chin .. it looks as if even domestic level punches turn his legs to jelly.
From being the next British legend/multi weight champ/p4p great .. its now gone to a world title belt holder .. just about any half decent boxer with the right connections can do that .. except maybe if they don`t have a half decent chin.

As for living on his own
How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

sorry but warren shouldnt allow that...

WildWaylon wrote:

emma wrote:I agree but could you really see amir in a flat on his own? noway! I bet he cant even turn on a washing machine let alone live on his own.

If I hadnt seen your name beside your comments I would still have been sure it was a woman behind them. You are probably right though.

Of course Im right but I expect it goes for most men still living at home. Im sure he could hire a housekeeper/cook though.

adamheight wrote:

tonyevs wrote:I got to agree with DG.


How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

sorry but warren shouldnt allow that...

You can't "not allow" family at ringside, every boxer is entitled to that.

What has always got me is the ring invasion by family after the bell. There are rules in place by the BBBoC concerning who is allowed in the ring and when. These are always ignored at Khan fights.

tonyevs wrote:I got to agree with DG.

The problem is his chin .. it looks as if even domestic level punches turn his legs to jelly.
From being the next British legend/multi weight champ/p4p great .. its now gone to a world title belt holder .. just about any half decent boxer with the right connections can do that .. except maybe if they don`t have a half decent chin.

As for living on his own
How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

They wont be at the next fight, by choice!

yogi wrote:

adamheight wrote:

tonyevs wrote:I got to agree with DG.


How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

sorry but warren shouldnt allow that...

You can't "not allow" family at ringside, every boxer is entitled to that.

What has always got me is the ring invasion by family after the bell. There are rules in place by the BBBoC concerning who is allowed in the ring and when. These are always ignored at Khan fights.

thats bollocks mate, if they pay for those seats fine. but i doubt khans family actually pay for 12 ringisde seats.

yogi wrote:
You can't "not allow" family at ringside, every boxer is entitled to that.

What has always got me is the ring invasion by family after the bell. There are rules in place by the BBBoC concerning who is allowed in the ring and when. These are always ignored at Khan fights.

I`m sure most headliners are given a certain amount of ringside seats .. its just Khan seems to have alot more than any others I`ve noticed .. why bring little 5-6yr olds to a fight? .. during the Arthur v Cook fight Khans dad had a kiddie on his lap and another was walking about, and it looked as if the blond lady sat next to him wasn`t too impressed by it .. you go to a fight to watch boxing not politely put up with nuisance whinging kids :x

Anybody else notice the two Enzo`s ringside also? .. 4 or 5 seats from Warren. I think this probably shows there isn`t animosity between them due to what Joe is doing.

yogi wrote:

adamheight wrote:

tonyevs wrote:I got to agree with DG.


How many other boxers bring a their mother/father/aunts/uncles/cousins .. and half a dozen infants to ringside with them?
Did you see the little kids sat on laps and walking about?

sorry but warren shouldnt allow that...

You can't "not allow" family at ringside, every boxer is entitled to that.

What has always got me is the ring invasion by family after the bell. There are rules in place by the BBBoC concerning who is allowed in the ring and when. These are always ignored at Khan fights.

same as hameds fights...after the kevin kelley fight that in NYC, the ring all of a sudden looked like friday markets in yemen.

yeah i don't see why all the little uns have to be ringside.

and the poor mum who dies a thousand deaths watching at ringside. :(

tabinda can stay though.

she's lovely.

i did not like the language etc of hattons family in that documentary, so lets not go off on one saying how great they are !!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/se ... g.amirkhan

Better quotes than the other one. Some real, brutal honesty in there Great, constructive stuff for the Khan camp.