Khan To Be Trained By Roach? Count On It Lasting Only Until Amir Gets Knocked Out Again
September 23rd, 2008
By William Mackay: I don’t know about you, but I think it won’t matter a hill of beans who trains Amir Khan (18-1, 14 KOs) from this point forward, he’ll be the same flawed fighter regardless of the interchangeable trainers that are switched in and out. In the latest boxing news, it appears that American trainer Freddie Roach may be taking over where Cuban Jorge Rubio left off. I doubt it will change a thing.
If anything, Khan will probably get starched even quicker than before, because Rubio was a defensive expert who specialized in teaching defensive fundamentals. Roach, from what I’ve heard, is more of an offensive trainer. Khan may be flawed defensively, but there’s nothing wrong with his offense at all. He’s got good hand speed and power, maybe even the best combination of overall offensive skills in the entire lightweight division. But, Khan’s defense, including some of his decision making in bouts, leaves a lot to be desired.
There was little chance, as hurt as he was, that Khan would make it out of the round. Sure enough, Prescott put the finishing touches on Khan with another big left hook, dropping a badly hurt Khan to the canvas for the final time. In fairness to Khan, probably most of the lightweights would have been taken out as well if they allowed Prescott to open up on them with left hooks at point blank range in the first round. However, most of them would have probably been smart enough to know that it wouldn’t be a wise move to try and tangle with Prescott that early in the fight. Khan, however, looked as if he figured his speed would be the difference.
As for hiring Roach, I don’t know that I agree with that decision. I’m sure he’s a good trainer, but I don’t see how things can be much different with him. Roach has trained a lot of good fighters, people like Wladimir Klitschko and James Toney, but he doesn’t have supernatural abilities, and won’t likely be able to do a thing for Khan’s chin problem. That’s something that no trainer can change, which makes it seem rather odd that Khan would move away from Rubio.
I thought he had a fine trainer in him, and probably could have learned a lot from him if given enough time to absorb his teachings. I suppose the same can hold true for Roach as well, but Khan has got to stick with someone. If something goes wrong, as it does in any sport, you don’t just move away from your trainer. Instead, he should be breaking down his mistakes with trainer and learning from it. It seems silly to throw away a perfectly good trainer in search for the unattainable one that will bring him everlasting invincibility.
If that’s Khan’s goal, he might as well give up and go back to his original trainer, since none of them are going to be able to enter the ring and take the shots for him. If Khan can’t take a hard punch without going down, then that’s the way it is, he’s just not cut out for the sport. The same would hold true if he had hopes of being a world class soccer star and couldn’t kick the ball between the posts. If Khan can’t take punches to the head, it’s best that he find that out sooner rather than later so that he can move on in life and find something he can do well. Constantly changing trainers, however, is like Khan sticking his head in a foxhole, trying to ignore what may be the truth about himself in hopes that it might go away.
6 Responses to “Khan To Be Trained By Roach? Count On It Lasting Only Until Amir Gets Knocked Out Again”
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Its prity obvious why you should retire if you cant take a punch in boxing. How do we know khans the best lightweight in Brittain he hasnt fought any of the top lightweights in the UK.
He is a product of a hype-machine, what were you fellas expecting? But the kid deserves a break. It wasn’t his fault that people around him and the media stroked his feathers a little too much that the hype went up his head.
He needs to be pitted 2 or 3 times against cannon-fodders to heal his crushed confidence.
Truth remains, though, he will have his ar$e sprawling on the canvas many, many times.
sory but why should khan quit the sport because hes not got great punch resistance. thats like telling someone whos just made a million pounds and had three hit singles selling records to give up singing
he’s the best lightweight in britain, he’s the commonwealth champion and he’ll be back with a new a flawless game plan so why should he give up and go home with all that talent. you lot are so depressing. you would tell your mother to lay down and die if she said she had an illness. sorry but none of you have a fighting spirit in you, so leave the fighting to the experts
Perfectly put wullie. Khans shown the world he isnt world class. Rubio is a scapegoat, does anyone seriously believe rubio trained him to chase prescott? Khan ignored wat his trainer told him to do then sacks him as if it is his fault! No point in a trainer if you dont listen and learn.
William Mackay: “If Mackay knows nothing about boxing, it’s best that he find that out sooner rather than later so that he can move on in life and find something he can do well”
Where on earth do these writers com from…….pure comedy relief
“If Khan can’t take punches to the head, it’s best that he find that out sooner rather than later so that he can move on in life and find something he can do well”
How stupid to suggest just because someone is chinny, they should move on and get out of boxing. Despite his chin, he is still a very talented and a very watchable figher who brings excitement to the sport. His handspeed, good power and foot movement is brilliant.