Amir Imam signs with Top Rank

Out of action since march of last year, super lightweight knockout artist Amir Imam has settled with former promoter Don King after a four-month legal battle and signed a multi-year deal with Top Rank.

Imam (21-2, 18 KO) looked poised for greatness as he smashed his way through the ranks, only to run smack into spoiler extraordinaire Adrian Granados in 2015. After that loss, which saw him drop his man early and then get thumped pillar-to-post until the eighth, Imam essentially fell off the map before getting a chance to fight Jose Ramirez for the vacant WBC belt in 2018. Imam’s issues with pressure came back to bite him once again, though he gave a decent account of himself against one of the top three 140-pounders en route to a decision defeat.

At 28 years old, Imam ostensibly still has time to reach his considerable ceiling. It’ll definitely be easier without King, although his associates can and should dangle the fact that he was dumb enough to sign with boxing’s patron saint of corruption over his head any time Imam tries to second-guess them.

I genuinely hate to see talented young fighters fail to live up to their potential, so I’ll be rooting for Imam to get back on track.