Predicting Khan’s next opponent
December 7th, 2009
By William Mackay: Based on his past fights, I’m not expecting to see World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan facing a tough opponent in the future. Khan has been handled with kid gloves since his brutal 1st round knockout loss last year against Breidis Prescott. Khan has rebounded from that loss, albeit against weak competition. However, I sure wish Khan would be put in with some talented fighters like Marcos Maidanda, Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, but I don’t see it happening.
You can add Breidis Prescott’s name as another opponent who won’t be on Khan’s agenda, even though I think Prescott got a bum deal against Kevin Mitchell last weekend and lost a 12 round decision in England. Khan won’t want to get back in the ring with Prescott, because this guy would be able to end the fight at a moment’s notice if he landed anything.
So here’s the list of fighters that Khan will probably fight:
Jose Luis Castillo
Kevin Mitchell
Zab Judah
Ricky Hatton
Here are the fighters that Khan should be looking at fighting:
Breidis Prescott
Timothy Bradley
Devon Alexander
Kendall Holt
Ricardo Torres
Victor Ortiz
Juan Manuel Marquez
Edwin Valero
If you look at the list of fighters that Khan will likely fight, you’ll notice a trend in which the fighters are for the most part, excluding Mitchell, older and over the hill. These are the fighters that Khan shouldn’t consider fighting if he is interested in showing that he’s a serious fighter and looking to take on the best. Judah, Hatton and Castillo may have been some of the best fighters in boxing at one time, but that time is past. Fighting them won’t prove that Khan is the best in the light welterweight division, because none of them are champions and I don’t see any of them capable of being one.
Mitchell isn’t even a light welterweight, so I have no idea why he would be considered as an opponent for Khan other than to give Amir a money fight in England. Mitchell is too short and small to compete with Khan. It won’t even be interesting to watch. Mitchell wouldn’t be able to run and pot shot all night long to get a win over Khan like he did Prescott, because I can’t see the judges’ giving Mitchell the decision against Khan.
Castillo has been beaten twice in the last three years, and stopped by Hatton in the 4th round in 2007. Last year, Castillo lost a 10 round decision to Sebastian Lujan in a one-sided loss. There’s no point in Khan fighting him other than to put Khan in with another older fighter for him to make a name off of. The same applies with Judah. He’s 32 and has lost four out of his last nine bouts. The only wins have come against lesser 2nd tier fighters. Beating Judah, which isn’t a forgone conclusion for Khan, is like throwing an old toothless lion in with him to toy with.
While I would like to think that Khan’s handlers have more faith in him than to put him in with old veterans who are many years past their best days, this is what I see happening. I honestly don’t have the foggiest idea when/if Khan will ever be put in with the likes of Bradley, Alexander, Torres, Ortiz, Valero or Prescott. It could be when they get older. Khan has age on his size and can afford to wait them out until they age past the point where they’re no longer dangerous.
Tags: 36 Responses to “Predicting Khan’s next opponent”
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Why is Khan getting so much attention on this website? Is every writer obligated to do an article on him? Every time I check this site it’s KHAN KHAN KHAN KHAN and more KHAN! WTF!
What a crap writer, i could have published a better article. where do they find such writers who have no idea of boxing. Please find a real job
another 5 years of barerras kotelniks and salitas….what will khans fans say when they announce his next fight and its castillo? how will you defend him then? and dont talk about judah coz he nearly fought matthew hatton recently so that shows what level hes at these days
Boring boring people are bored of it.
obviously he will pick zab judah to fight as he is already talking about this fight happening. zab judah is still a dangerouse fight for khan though. all the hype is getting out of control around him again and they are setting him up for another fall and fooling people by saying he is the best but not proving he is the best. if you’re going to say it then prove it because people are getting bored
tres 3 not a truer word said talk the talk then walk the walk khan can do the first bit but has difficulty with the second part
you all forgetting juan urango would hospitalize khan khan would run like usain bolt you could put him in with the 36 yr old witter khan would struggle like f0 0 k and would not be a fore gone clousion seriously
Mitchell beat Prescott with a unanimous decision landing twice as many shots. King Khan is going to clean up in the USA and you know it.
TRES3- MIGUEL COTTO SHOULD GET A HUGE AMOUNT OF CREDIT HE ALWAYS FOUGHT THE BEST TOO.
The thing is that UK fighters are way to protected fighting lesser competition in the UK, if and when they cross the pond they find out that its not that easy as it was back home, just ask Nas and Hatton! Khan will fight chumps like Judah and over the hill Castillos and fighters of that nature, and protect himself from real competition cuz he has no balls! someone asked who were other boxers fighting at 22, let’s see, Barrera has fought everybody and anybody since he turned pro at 15! Julio Cesar Chavez did the same since the age of 16, Vargas was the youngest Jr. Middleweight champ ever at i believe 20 and it goes on and on! that’s what boxers did back in the day, that’s how they made a name for them selves! thats why boxing has been in a decline untill now. the same thing people say of PBF how he cherry picks, people dont like Amir for the same reason! why do people love Pac? He has balls, he fights, just like JMM, Barrera, Chavez Sr. and Vargas! Its just being a man and fighting anyone who makes a challenge! Heart! that’s why SRR will always be the greatest, he took on everyone! P4P! its not hate, at least not on my part, its just if u think you’re the best, and youre country thinks your the best, THEN PROVE IT!
See here’s the thing, at one time to be a World Champ meant just that – you had taken on all comers and were the best ! Nowadays, you get stupid comments coming from both trainers and fighters saying that I will gain experience from my defences ( with opponents that are often hand picked for harmlessness ) and they aim for a superfight with what is, afterall, no more than another legitimate contender in the given division. This is why i do not give hardly any credibility to the holding of any of the so called World titles – they have alrgely become a joke !
I would far more readily pay good money for a non-title fight involving the best in the division going at one another – just that for them nowadays, the money is the real motivation instead of the title ( but that is fully understandable in the Real World ).
Khan would stand a chance against any in the division if he fights smartly and uses his main skills n strengths. But, sadly, you can’t put muscle around the chin area and there will always be the worry that as soon as he is clocked on the whiskers by a genuine puncher, it could be show over !
I’d love tosee Khan vs Paul McCloskey
KAM, you are probably right!! perhaps he looks like someone from camp gitmo..
I dont understand fans in this country anymore, Mayweather has been cherry picking and taking easy routes for years and the UK fans adore him. Khan is our rising young prospect flying our flag and learning his craft and is a world champion and some of his own fans are shootng him to bits. WIERD, Im really starting to think these jealous fans dislike for another reason.
and hitman hearns is a legend who will go down as one of the most exciting fighters of all time!who will remember these so called elite like bradley and alexander in 10 years time? i doubt even this writer, he will be praising some other average americans by that time.
i hope they don’t handpick khan’s opponents..
instead let him fight each contenders out there like what tyson,holmes,chavez,arguello,hagler,leonard,ali,and many more greats used to do…too many handpicking opponents by promoters these days..
should have read “your real first or second names.
All you lot on here praising Khan on put your real first or second down and show the real reason you support him and shut the F*k up bout him being 22 he 23 bar two days so what Kevin Michell is 2 year older than Khan and look at the number he did on Prescott.
could the writer please tell me why he does not like khan??
he is an exciting fighter who i would much rather watch than the so called elite such as bradley or alexander.
what I don’t get is who the hell was hatton, calzaghe, fighting in their 22nd fight? no one. This website is blatantly hated on Khan but hes only 22, and needs to build on his career and when hes 25 then I would like to see him in with some big timers. These writers are bunch of pussies and would never say it to khanz face as they would get blathered.
Judah will wipe the floor with this bum. He isnt a real champion. Has he ever faced anyone with any talent? I think not. Whats his name again a mere con? HAHA! He is a joke
khan hater get a life
william , chill out, im 100percent certain amir will fight one of the top light welterweights next year
u know mitchell beat prescott?
u know that right?
KHAN V ZAB = americans will buy 2 see the fight..oh yh i forgot he’s 22 and is meant 2 fight the best..i bet u were saying 2
ricky hatton and joe calzaghe 2 fight the best at 22…and then people talk about mitchell? were was he and who was he fighting at 22 years old..now lets put it all in perspective 22 years old and still learning…give him time and then challenge the kid when hes 24 or suting..come on bruv sort it out
KAM,PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE YOU FALL.THATS THE LIFE WE LIVE.I THINK JUDAH A GREAT NAME TO MAKE IS DEBUT IN THE STATES THATS THE NEXT STEP UP.BUT KHAN AND HIS TEAM NO WOTS BEST.BUT AT 140LB THERE IS NO ONE FASTER THAN KHAN AND SPEED KILLS
Khan should fight ortiz who would be a cherry for khan but the promoters are guna hold that fight until later so the fighters get a bigger pay day. same with all the other prospects. the worlds khans oyster. the honest truth is none of the other prospects are exactly calling khan out are they? they rather avoid him.
he beat a mandatory challenger as his first defence and now everyone is on his back. Get a life or stop writing. We do not need another bias hater on this site. Lets not forget Judah has called khan out so i dont see why khan should be called a cherry picker if he takes him on. just get a life.
Alan- yea hes 2 years away from hes peak but what people dont realise its all part of a boxer’s education in fighting past champions and level B fighters, khan is only 22 who was lennox lewis and all the other champions fighting at that age. Why do all these haters give khan a hard time when hes still learning, he would be very stupid by fighting the best right away when hes not no where near hes best
bradley is a very dirty fighter, just see the fight with campbellm he will fight alexander coz they are the same age no excuses there
KAM,khan is young fast his getting better but he as got to work his way thru the lightwelters not jump strate in with the elite.khan would smash HATTON who as had is day
Why shouldent khan build his name up agasist oppenents like judah or hatton and the go after bradley or alexander who i think khan could beat whith ease
YOU PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS CRITICISE KHAN HES IN A NO WIN SITUATION WHOEVER HE FIGHTS. WHEN HE HITS HES PEAK HE WILL SMASH THEM ALL TO PIECES.
a biased opinion nonetheless…but you see, you forgot to look beyond the box with your opinion.
you forgot that Khan Is only 22 (23 in 2 days). he’s got mountains still to climb to be considered as a prime P4P or superb fighter/boxer, etc., whatever people wants him to be called. he’s young, still growing at his age. learning curve is still rising. these boxers you mentioned are either going down now or are at their prime. Khan has yet to reach his prime. which means his path is an easy one until he reaches the point where he can take on ANYBODY.
he might even go into 147-154 lb area. who knows?
your article suggests your view is so myopic, just like perez, santiago and the like.
have an open mind and read between the lines (if you know what that means……:-(
SH1T ARTICLE CAN TELL YOUR A KHAN HATER, GIVE UP WRITING F00L.
castillo washed up,mitchell to small, hatton to big,it will be judah i think.his faded but better than salita and would sell in the states.khan is not ready for bradley Alexander holt torres ortiz valero