Amir Khan turned down Manny Pacquiao
by SC on Sep 9, 2009 9:47 AM EDT
in News Analysis
17 comments
Terence Dooley reports that current 140-pound titleholder Amir Khan turned down an offer from 140-pound world champion Manny Pacquiao to fight earlier this year. Khan's father, Shah Khan, says they did so because of Amir's lack of big fight experience.
Shah Khan remarked:
"Maybe in a couple years it is something we would look at, but not at this stage."
And just in case anyone thinks the Khans are full of it, Bob Arum confirms:
"Amir's name was on the table, we offered him the fight. ... [He] has all the attributes of a great champion, and I think he's going to be a superstar in the sport. OK, so he had a loss in his career, he made a mistake, but he looks great now."
I agree that Khan has looked sensational since teaming up with Freddie Roach, and that the way Roach is coaching Amir to fight, his chin won't be the overwhelming danger it has been thus far. He's a tall guy with exceptionally fast hands, moves well, and can box.
I don't think he would have been any challenge for Pacquiao right now, and obviously the Khans made the right decision to take a pass on it. Amir still has plenty to learn from Freddie Roach, and plenty of money to make before he takes another major risk like this. I'm not even saying I like that he's going to be super protective of that chin and of his career, because it's kind of fraudulent that way, but it is what it is, and we all know it's a business. It probably didn't even project as THAT big of a money fight for either guy.
But in two years if all stays as it is? Yeah, that's a fight I'd like to see.
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With Roach training both
And Khan sparring Pacquiao in his last three fights now, I just don’t see that fight ever happening, not to mention that Frank Warren would never take it unless it was a clear cash out move (or unless Pacquiao slows down more than a few ticks). Khan is actually a very good fighter, but he’ll always be an odd cookie. His combination of strengths and weaknesses means he’ll be able to easily beat some fighters who most would think are better than he is, and would get his butt kicked by some guys who most would think are worse than he is. For instance, I wouldn’t let Marcos Maidana touch him with a 10 foot pole, but I’d push very hard for a unification fight with Timothy Bradley. Simply put, I think he dominates Bradley but gets his ass handed to him by Maidana, even though Bradley is clearly the better fighter.
As long as Khan continues with his new and improved ‘Calzaghe’ style and avoids the biggest punchers out there, he could still develop into a superstar.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Sep 9, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
if Pac’s star continues on the rise and the relationship with Roach deteriorates further, he might be training solely Khan 2 years down the line. I was intrigued when I first heard this was actually a genuine offer, would be a pretty good fight down the track if Khan’s chin has stood up in the meantime.
Am a little confused, wouldn’t he have a better chance of out-boxing the biggest punchers out there? Yes, there’s the more of a lights-out possibility, but maybe his style now would keep him more out of danger, although it only needs one….
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
by BrianBrock on Sep 9, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Depends on who it is
Someone like Urango who has trouble cutting off the ring, and I think Khan can pull it off. Someone like Maidana or Bailey who has a clue or can box, probably has a better chance.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Sep 9, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, I'm with Brick....
I’d take Bradley as an opponent for Khan over Maidana all day long. Maidana would hand him his own ass on a plate, whereas Bradley ‘s style of boxing is made for Khan. I’d take Bradley over Maidana too.
This is another demonstration of the sort of 3 fighter triangle I wrote about a little while ago, where I said I’d take Manny over Floyd, Floyd over Cotto, and Cotto over Manny…
Loads of recent examples of this triangle thing, including;
Tarver/Jones/Hopkins
Pavlik/Hopkins/Taylor
Mosley/Forrest/Mayorga
Margarito/Cotto/Mosley
I’m sure there are others, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head… Anyone feel free to throw some in!! :)
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
by Chaos100 on Sep 9, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tyson/Douglas/Savarese....
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
by Chaos100 on Sep 9, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tyson/Douglas/Tucker
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
by Chaos100 on Sep 9, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tszyu/Mitchell/Phillips
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
by Chaos100 on Sep 9, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just think he doesn’t necessarily have to avoid the heavy handed punchers like the plague. Maidana would be a far more interesting fight for me than a Bradley one.
Oh, and I’d take Floyd over Manny…
All I could think of was I’d take Haye over Wlad, Wlad over Vitali but Vitali over Haye…
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
by BrianBrock on Sep 9, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take Floyd over Manny too
But Khan’s chin is as bad as I’ve ever seen for someone fighting at this level. Much worse than Haye’s.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Sep 9, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm referring to fight triangles that have happened.... :)
Haye/Wlad/Vitali has never happened, and will never happen….
Hearns/Barkley/Duran is another that happened…..
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
by Chaos100 on Sep 9, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Diaz/Hatton/Marquez…. Neither fighter can box on their toes eveything is going forward , a guranteed knockout in either fight.
Also, How about a battle of the bums night on H.B.O. or Showtime on a Saturday..
Magglinagi vs Zab Judah……..That would be some real funny shit!
by Haans Bishop on Sep 9, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Magglinagi vs Zab Judah……..That would be some real funny shit!
I’d like to see the turnout for this fight if they tried to put it at MSG. I think they’d be surprised, someone would get sick, and they’d have to reschedule at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by SC on Sep 9, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think either has a big enough following for MSG
But I could see rioting in the crowd after that fight if something controversial happened.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Sep 9, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As much as I hope Zab never gets another big fight, I hope Paulie does, so I guess I’d kind of have to be on board. I think the Hammerstein would actually be an awesome venue for it, too.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by SC on Sep 9, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or the Avirex Center
Which is practically walking distance from both their neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Hammerstein certainly has more ambiance though.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Sep 9, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Avirex center would be awesome.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on Sep 11, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would attend this fight
if only for the atmosphere. Paulie, UD.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on Sep 11, 2009 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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