Khan vs Peterson II: Golden Boy Praises Nevada Commission

I have a high opinion of both fighters, so this fight is hard for me to pick. On one hand, Khan fought a very stupid fight and that cost him the victory. The first time Khan had a stupid fight, he rededicated himself and improved rather significantly. However, the first time Khan also changed trainers and Roach should take a great deal of credit for Khan’s improvement. That being said, Khan has never shown a high ring IQ, and has never fought a complete “smart” fight.

It’s hard to say whether his foolishness is due to his large ego or if it is simply a mental trait. One can be helped, the other is hopeless.

Can I take a shot at this, APG1?

I think Khan has already proven to be a very marketal star despite evebn having been knocked out. So another loss, should it be close, will not have a long term impact. Short term however, I think he is fortunate at a quick shot at redemption in Vegas. His fighting in DC was stupid…from a marketing perspective. Not for Lamont, the B side fighter, but for Khan, who controled the negotiation.

Peterson, IMO is making/raking a mistake/chance with the one victory over Khan having elevated him. He is a star today because of that victory. i think he can repeat but if I were him I would have gone for JMM money if that fight could have been made. The money would have been significant and beating JMM, not an impossibility, would have be huge.

Now, if he wins, Great for him. But is he loses, he was teh guys who beat Khan (controversily) and now would be reverted to the opponent who had one good night.

In other words, he had more to gain by fighting a few tweeners before Khan than giving Amir a shot of ‘overturning’ a bad night.

Peterson is good…but lets not forget he was tied by Ortiz and beaten soundly by Bradley. Three losses for him are worse than three losses for the more marketable Khan IMO.

Lamont – Nothing much. Everyone expected him to lose the first fight, but he had a good gameplan to beat the mentally weak Khan. Lamont is always going to give mentally weak fighters a tough time. Look what he did with Ortiz. Ortiz was killing him in the first half of the fight with Lamont making adjustments and easily taking the second half. I like Lamont as a potential opponent for the winner of the Matthysse – Soto fight.

Khan – He has a ton to lose. A potential fight with Mayweather goes away, unless Khan goes up to WW and beats some of the upcoming talent. I feel like GBP wants to have Khan take on the winner of Maidana and Alexander for the chance of taking on Mayweather. Of course, GBP could be looking to the winner of Ortiz-Berto II as well if Lamont manages to take it . I also feel like there will be a mountain of excuses coming from the Khan camp if he manages to lose. Not comfortable with the weight, distracted because of his fiance, Freddie isn’t around enough, etc.

The latter, IMO. I’ve been a big Khan supporter since very early in his pro career and probably remain one of his bigger fans, but he’s always going to be the way that he is now, I’m guessing. He’s very good, very marketable, and will be around a long time, I expect, with or without bumps in the road. He kind of reminds me of what Bill James said about Jim Palmer:

Jim Palmer was the ultimate pretty-boy athlete. Unnaturally handsome, with clear blue eyes and a square, smiling face, he was also highly intelligent and articulate. In his articulate way he whined about the Cy Young voting every time he didn’t win it, feuded with his manager, and pulled a face whenever teammates misplayed a ball behind him. He was sort of the exact opposite of Don Zimmer, who is ugly as boiled sin but solid, authentic, tough, and lovable.

If Peterson’s camp doesn’t do just that (prematurely refuse to fight with Cortez as referee), I don’t think there’s any doubt who’s going to get the call.