Pacquiao backs Khan to face Mayweather in 2011
by Scott Christ on Oct 29, 2010 3:01 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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The BBC has an interesting story up right now on Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. Khan, the 23-year-old junior welterweight titlist, thinks he'll be ready to fight Mayweather in a year's time, and says he's backed by Pacquiao.
"Manny thinks it will be a good fight because he's trained with me, sparred with me, he really thinks I'm good enough to fight Mayweather now.
"But I think in the next 12 months, when I get even better and with more experience, I think I'll be in better condition to fight him then.
"This is a timing game and I want to fight him when I think I'm ready, not when he's ready and I'm not. I want to fight him when we're both ready and when I've hit my peak."
Khan and Pacquiao, of course, both train under the renowned Freddie Roach, and have sparred together often since Khan joined Roach's stable in late 2008.
I know this will sound crazy to a lot of people, but I actually think Khan is one of the best matchups in boxing for Mayweather. Mayweather is going to turn 34 in February, has a history of nagging injuries that are likely slowing him down as we speak, hasn't stayed active the last few years, and hasn't faced someone with Khan's natural physical abilities (at least not still intact) in a long time, if ever. Mayweather has never fought someone with Khan's hand speed, and Khan is a couple of inches taller than Floyd, too.
Khan still has his "haters" or doubters, but we're talking about a fighter with an Olympic pedigree who basically has had one really awful round as a pro where he got caught flat against a guy who can punch. Khan's chin is not good, but under Roach he's learned to better protect his fatal flaw. Over the years, Mayweather has also sacrificed punching power for the sake of healthy hands, and while he can still crack when he needs to, he might not find the openings as easily against a young, talented, and confident fighter like Khan the way he did against an old Shane Mosley or the limited Ricky Hatton.
No doubt Mayweather would have to be heavily favored, and I do believe Mayweather would win, unless Floyd had the absolute, bar none worst night of his career. But when you think about who Floyd is going to fight next, what else sounds interesting? Obviously the fight everyone still wants is Manny Pacquiao, but I just don't think that fight is going to happen. Khan, unlike Pacquiao, fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, meaning Bob Arum wouldn't be involved, and that likely would make things a bit easier. Not that I'm blaming Arum for that fight not happening, but his relationship with Team Mayweather is not exactly smooth these days.
Other than Manny, the cupboard is bare. Welterweight is a dead zone for name fighters, and should Khan survive a December 11 fight with Marcos Maidana, he'll have the most US TV hype behind him of anyone at 140. Part of that is also affected by the fact that he fights for Golden Boy. His competitors at 140 are Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, who face each other in January and are promoted by Gary Shaw and Don King, respectively.
The situation is almost too good to not work out if everyone were serious about making the fight happen. Frankly, it's this or something less appealing, like a Mosley rematch.
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I was telling my coach this exactly yesterday...
I think Khan couldn’t be a worse match-up for Floyd He has quicker hands and feet, has a longer reach and wouldn’t have to worry Floyd knocking him out (as much as some other fighters he might face anyways)… Another year to put on muscle and Floyd a year older, I would take Khan big as an underdog.
Khan-Mayweather is swell...
…really, it is; Khan’s primary weakness is one that Mayweather can’t crack too frequently, or at least not in one punch. But is this statement Manny’s acknowledgment of retirement to soon come? He certainly sounds like he’s passing the torch, past the matchup we’re all still waiting on. (And it will all be moot when Mayweather’s in lockup for at least a few months, anyway.)
I think most people are not still waiting on that Pac-Mayweather fight ever happening, apart from the eternal optimists :) I think Khan would have to have a fight or two at 147 first, but even then, if he looked like being a genuine challenge I doubt Mayweather would take it on at that stage of his career. And thats not an aside against him, but when you’ve had a long career and unbeaten record, its not the sort of risk you take at the end (would Calzaghe have fought Dawson even if the money was there? I don’t think so)
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I think that says more about Calzaghe than Dawson, personally...
Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch Van Gogh paint 'Sunflowers', but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear. (Bill Nack)
In One Year
If Khan’s trajectory continues unimpeded, he will beat Mayweather. Betcha.
If love would die along with death, this life wouldn't be so hard--Andrew Vachss
I'll take that bet :)
I’m a fan of Amir Knan, but Mayweather….he would have to fade a lot in 12 months. Outside that timeframe all bets are off!!
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
as a mayweather supporter (something thats quite shameful for me to admit as of late) i cant see him taking this fight …
it may be one that would be easy/easier to make and one that i would still favor pbf in. but khan has way too much of a pulse. it hurts to admit but its just too dangerous of a fight for floyd to take and therefore he wont.
although as a true floyd fan in a fictitious fight scenario floyd dominates and beats khan easy and no one gives him proper credit for doing so … so whats the point :)
Yeah, with you there. Roll on December.
I’m looking forward to Khan-Maidana a lot more than Pac-Cheato.
I would give Khan about a zero percent chance at winning this fight
As long as Mayweather is the same guy who fought Mosley. Mayweather may not punch hard, but there’s nobody better at countering with a punch the other guy doesn’t see coming, other than maybe Hopkins. I don’t think Khan can even handle a lighter punch he can’t see coming. After three or four rounds, after Mayweather has cracked him a few times, Khan’s workrate slows to a crawl and Mayweather takes over.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
After three or four rounds, after Mayweather has cracked him a few times, Khan’s workrate slows to a crawl and Mayweather takes over.
Substitute ‘Maidana’ for ‘Mayweather’ and that’s the reason I don’t think this fight will happen….. ;)
(Take THAT, BrianBrock!!)
Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch Van Gogh paint 'Sunflowers', but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear. (Bill Nack)
I think Maidana is too slow to catch up with Khan
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
What kind of a comeback is that??????
Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch Van Gogh paint 'Sunflowers', but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear. (Bill Nack)
Hit the nail on the head
Floyd would KO him.
by FrontHandMan on Oct 29, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Floyd has a giant fan base in the UK...according to him.
So that in itself means mo’ money. On the other hand, floyd isn’t fighting anyone until he decides it’s safe.
Both Khan and Manny will have to pass their next opponents before Floyd decides the coast is clear. If he likes what he sees, we’ll know. That will be who he chooses to fight. He complexion might be dark but at this point you can see right through him.
If Manny is in a war, expect floyd to make noise. If Margarito follows Hatton, forget it. Same with Khan.
For Floyd, it’s glory wothout risk. Like B.O. … the ‘O’ goes with the body.
His body. Wherever it goes.
Pakinpower
I reckon you’ve summed it up precisely. If Manny and Khan both do a number on their opponents, Floyd may retire… again.
by Phill on Oct 30, 2010 2:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I would love to be proven wrong
And wake up and read that, come what may, Floyd has demanded to his team and all that will listen that he wants to fight the winner of Manny Margarito. Immediately.
Then again, I’d like to wake up in my bed with Scarlet Johansen leaning over and asking me if I wanted any more milk………. with my coffee.
Floyd does have a large fan base in the UK.
Thousands of people turned up just to watch him arrive at Peacock Gym in London. If he were to fight Khan, it would sell bucket-loads of PPVs here; and, moreover, if he were to fight Khan in England, he’d probably be able to fill out one of the larger football stadiums – Emirates, Old Trafford, possibly Wembley – albeit he wouldn’t be able to charge the same as in Vegas. Khan-Floyd, if it happens, makes a lot of money over here.
Such were the days, still, hot, heavy, disappearing one by one into the past, as if falling into an abyss for ever open in the wake of the ship; and the ship, lonely under a wisp of smoke, held on her steadwast way black and smouldering in a luminous immensity, as if scorched by a flame flicked at her from a heaven without pity.
by Oli Goldstein on Oct 30, 2010 5:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Ex-damn-actly. If Khan looks like a monster against Maidana, Floyd won’t touch him for all the cash in the world. Not until he’s gotten beaten halfway to Alzheimer’s, is coming off a three-fight losing streak and has lost all the things that made him good – except the name. After all, Mayweather was talking about fighting Matthew Hatton instead of Pacman.
Don't like wrestling in MMA? Go watch K-1.
Can't deal with the occasional boring fight? Let me introduce you to ROH.
Dear Mr. White - would it kill you to drop a few f-bombs less?
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Nov 4, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Y'ALL ARE H8RS
KHAN 4 PRESIDENT
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 30, 2010 6:50 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Have you been on the bourbon? ;)
Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch Van Gogh paint 'Sunflowers', but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear. (Bill Nack)
I had been, yes
But I stand by my statement.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 30, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to think Floyd finds a way to take out Khan's "not good" chin
unless Floyd grows a lot older between fights. His punch seemed hard enough against Hatton, though the memory of that fight should make Mayweather-Khan a very big fight in the UK.
Not H8NG. If Khan beats Maidana and the Bradley-Alexander winner (big question), he becomes the clear 2nd best fight for Mayweather.
…well, I guess that might actually be the Williams-Martinez winner, but since Floyd will never go near that…
The Sam The Eagle
comment is pretty damn clever, and just remarkably spot on.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
Please.. Here we go again hyping up fighters
How is it that all of a sudden Khan and May weather’s names are mentioned in the same sentence. Khan is the same guy who was knocked in the ring doing the same dance as Zab Judah when he was KO by Kystazu. The chicken dance to be exact! This guy has a lot of work to do to be mentioned with the ELITE. And then when Mayweather makes the guy look like a Bloody Brit, then people say well Mayweather didn’t fight anybody.
If you always thought what you thought, then you wouldn't think what you knew.
Please.. Here we go again with you posting the same thing you always post
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
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