Freddie Roach wants to see Khan fight Erik Morales
July 8th, 2009
By Liam Santiago: Freddie Roach, trainer of Amir Khan (20-1, 15ko’s), has said that he would like to see Khan fight Erik Morales (48-6, 34ko’s) if he beats Kotelnik this month. This idea brings us back to when the Barrera fight was announced. Many similarities, only Morales is a step down in class from Barrera, having lost five of his last six fights.
Roach spoke to boxing news on his plans for Khan, ‘im looking at maybe Erik Morales, when he makes his comeback. That is who I’d like to go against next, or guys of that nature. I have the new “Mexican Assassin” in Amir.’
Khan is used to his fair share of critics and even the thought of this fight happening is likely to bring many to the surface. Maybe it wouldn’t be such an easy fight for Amir. Maybe Morales still has something left. What we do know is that this is a lose – lose situation for Khan. If he wins he will have beaten a ’shot’ old fighter and if he loses he will have lost to a ’shot’ old fighter. The big question is, what does Morales have left? Possibly nothing at all. Khan would be likely to smother him with his speed and movement and take a points victory. Personally, I don’t want to see this fight happen. As has been said it’s a lose-lose situation for Khan. Surely a rematch with Barrera would have more appeal. I just don’t see any good coming from this fight for Khan whatever the result.
This would also rule out a super fight with British legend Ricky Hatton. Hatton has been strongly linked to fight Khan after the Kotelnik fight, if he wins. Now this fight does seem worthwhile. Ricky has lost to the two best pound for pound fighters on the planet, and arguably the best over the last decade. Many boxing critics claim Ricky is ’shot’, surely losing to these two fighter does not mean his career is over. Only a few years ago those same critics claimed Juan Marquez was ’shot’. Does he look shot now? The point i’m making is a fight with Amir Khan would not just be one last payday for Hatton, it would be a tough, competitive fight. Would you rather see Khan fight Morales or Hatton? Not only would a Hatton fight have a lot more meaning to it, it would also appeal to millions of fans, weather they follow boxing or not. Hatton is yet to make a decision on his future ; although he has been in training which is a good sign.
Maybe Roach believes Khan isn’t ready for Hatton yet. Maybe he believes that Khan would struggle to hold Hatton off and deal with his pressure. What is for sure is if the Khan camp were positive he could beat Hatton, they would jump at the chance because Khan is unlikely to get a payday as big as he would here in any other fight.
Obviously other options are out there for Khan. There’s Marquez, Campbell, Bradley and nobody’s forgetting Briedis Prescott. Also British lightweight John Murray regularly throws his name into the mix, hoping of a dream payday from the Bolton star. Murray is unlikely to trouble Khan now he’s under Roach and in all fairness, if Murray is still fighting British ranked 7th fighters and losing his belts due to unprofessionalism, he does not deserve a fight with Khan.
However, for now Khan must concentrate only on Kotelnik. It won’t be easy. Kotelnik is a tough, fierce boxer who never quits. He beat Maidana who recently knocked-out Golden-boy’s prospect Victor Ortiz. Also, he has never been knocked down in his career. Although Khans speed and movement will probably prove too much for the Ukranian, no-one knows what will happen. Khan will look to take Kotelnik’s jab away with his speed. Kotelnik will, no doubt, have other ideas.
Please comment on who you would like to see Khan fight next, if he beats Kotelnik.
Tags: 30 Responses to “Freddie Roach wants to see Khan fight Erik Morales”
Leave a Reply
please use above banner to link back to us!
- anyone remember Hamed ?
- guess not, haha. anyway, Khan is Hamed Jr. hehe.
- Roach is a good coach. thats all.
- i think El Terrible can pull it off. just as long as he doesnt leave it to the judges, who robbed him of his fourth title. those idiots !
- take it easy everyone, and good night !
I guess altzheimer’s is catching up to Roach.
fredy want this fight to hapen because khan beathin morales khan will be now on the top.
and fredy kows morales very well.
so they are looking for a easy fight because they know that morales can’t handol the fights any more morales is out know hi is justl looking for the money.in my opinion
Khan needs better opposition to gauge his skills against; not an ageing Morales.
It’s match-making like this that’s ruining boxing.
Not an Interesting fight, I was an “el terible” fan until he quit on Pac. Khan vs Hatton would be more interesting, though I still think Khan’s not yet ready for Hatton. He should test his skills first against Ortiz, Maidana, Spadafora, Valero or a rematch with Prescott to test if he definitelt improved.
do they expect us all to pay £15 to watch this?
Is Lance ‘lancblade58′?
Salita and Khan would make for a very interesting fight. I wonder where it would happen
Morales was a great fighter, but to make this fight now is just another example of the sorry match-making that is killing the sport of boxing.
Roach also said he wanted this fight in America, as to build a stature for khan.
if he is to become big, bigtime is america
Lets be clear on this…Roach deep down will know full well that Amir Khan is not good enough BUT as long as they are paying him big money for his services he will do and say all he can for as long as it lasts…which if he begins to face better opposition, wont be much longer
Salita and Khan should be interesting. Salita was an outstanding amateur and has looked really good in some of his pro outings. He has also used a fellow Brit Ashely Theophane as a sparring partner. It should be a good scrap.
Why am i not surprised. I acually suggested this khan morales thing as a joke after the barrera farce…but for them to actualy do it would be beyond ridiculous. Khans career is already verging on the pathetic but this will sink to new lows if they go after morales instead of elite 140 contenders.
This comment shows us all thing…. That Freddie Roach and Team Khan have no real faith in Amir as a true world class top level fighter. He needs to be protected forever in order for his joke of career to continue
sorry, it should answer a lot of questions.
I think Freddie Roach should worry about Khan’s next opponent first. He took everything Maidana had and did not go down, we have seen that Maidana can really punch. Khan’s next fight should reveal a lot of questions.
I understand that Erik Morales is going to be an easy step stone for upcoming fighters at this point, however, Khan should be beyond that point in his career where he needs to beat an ancient Morales just to add his name to his defeat list. The victory will not prove anything for Khan. Their are other bouts that are a step up in opposition… fighting Morales is not a step up. Freddie Roach is a man of respect, but this comment worries me.
mark f, you took the words right out of my head. WEIRD
I feel sorry for Khan.He is a genuine nice young lad…and look at most of the other boxers out their and who they were fighting after a couple of years as pro..
I think he should be given abit more time to develop and a bit more credit than he gets……
1 more point,how many bad predictions does Freddie Roach make…
Khan is overhyped well salita is on a different level of hype his being marketed to the jewish community as one of the best p4p
ever in history check this out..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_sWaJX2ndI&feature=related
The overhyped and unproven Dmitry Salita is the WBA mandatory challenger. So I expect a fight with Salita who has a large following amongst the Jewish community at a sellout Madison Square Garden, will be next.
don’t expect any decent opponent for amir, if he loses then frank warren wouldn’t have any big named boxers left on his books, bums & has-beens all the way for khan, just like every other sport netwrk fighter ie calzaghe, hatton, hamed etc……when was he last time he made a fight the fans wanted?
I think he should fight Prescott and if he does beat him then I will truly believe he is ready to fight the big boys in marquez hatton and mayweather. i personnally believe khan doesnt merit a fight with hatton, he should fight on merit and he has a fair few fight to go before he should share the ring with hatton…
I dont know much about Kotelnik at all. In fact until a few months ago i had never heard the guys name.
But what i had heard since then is people saying hes the worse world champion in boxing. Yet according to this article he cant be that bad if hes never been knocked down, if hes won a olympic medal, if hes beaten some hot prospects.
I know he lost by a close margin to Junior Wittter, who is a solid fighter.
Maybe Warren, Khan and now Roach, have all underestimated this guy and his hunger and ability to box.
We know khan is not going to knock him out, so really the question is can Kotelnik knock khan out?
I think hes got every chance in the world. Roach might be a good trainer and Khan might have fast hands. But kotelnik has the skills to beat him, and from what ive seen in interviews kotelnik has the mindset. He has the right attitude. Everyone has written him off, he still believes hes the champion.
khan is gona lose to kotelnic dnt overlook this guy i spared with this guy hs good
It will never happen. Morales has stacked on that much weight i can’t see how he could ever come but. Never want to see this fight either. Morales is a true legend that has had is time and doesn’t deserve to be thrown to the wolves for a fight that won’t prove anything. Khan should man up and get in the ring with Hatton or Prescott and prove that he’s not all talk. Talk is cheap if you can’t back it up.
Khan fighting washed up names is his forte, he did it first on the domestic scene by fighting Michael Gomez instead of Thaxton or Murray and then on the major scene with Gairy St Clair (former IBF) champ and Barreara, two former world champs in lower divisions and well into their 30’s. He wont fight Hatton till hes past 35 trust me.
Kahn should fight hatton if hatton wants the fight, much better than a old finished morales. Kahn will get so much stick if he fought morales. The kotelnik fight is going to be a very hard fight.
If witter wins he should go for a rematch with bradley or fight campbell if he wins.
Can somebody please take Roach to the hospital immediately!
This would be awful, good article, as mentioned, Morales is a legend but he is shot to pieces now, its not Khans fault tho, you have to blame Warren & Roach, basically, they are getting big names, all be it shot names on his record to get him more publicity and star status.
I would love to see Khan fight Hatton at the end of the year, or if Witter beats Alexander, that fight!
Or the winner of Campbell Bradley!
Or winner of Diaz Malignaggi – if he takes any of those fights I will have more respect for him, or of course Prescott!
I’d like to see him fight Scott Gilfoid….cause he is a complete retard!!!
After that 1 second knockout I’d like to see him fight Prescott again ,so he can move on with his career, but Morales would be an interesting fight…