Roach sees Khan-Malignaggi as a feasible next fight
December 18th, 2009
By Scott Gilfoid: According to an article from Rick Reeno from Boxing Scene, trainer Freddie Roach seems interested in a fight between World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan and former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) in March. In the article Roach says this about a potential Khan-Malignaggi bout: “That’s definitely a viable fight. It’s something I would definitely welcome. I like Paulie. It’s a big fight.” This news might not be be well received by some Khan detractors, who would see this as another case of Khan taking on another light-hitting fighter.
Malignaggi has only five knockouts on his record and is one of the softest punchers in the top 15 in the light welterweight division.
Many boxing fans would prefer to see Khan face a dangerous threat, such as WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana, a knockout artist with 26 knockouts in 28 fights. Khan will have to face Maidana sooner or later or risk getting stripped. Again, there are some people who suspect that Khan will vacate the WBA title after having milked it as long as he can against weak punchers and not ever face Maidana or another dangerous fighter like Timothy Bradley.
Khan is 23, and some people say that he’s still too young and that he should be given a break from fighting dangerous fighters. I don’t agree. Manny Pacquiao, Khan’s idol, was facing dangerous opponents from his earliest teenage years as a pro, and there wasn’t anyone saying he should be allowed to steer clear of dangerous punchers. If Khan is too young to fight dangerous opponents, then he should vacate now and let Maidana fight someone else for the title.
Malingaggi defeated lightweight Juan Diaz in a 12 round unanimous decision on December 12th. The win supposedly brought new life to Malignaggi’s sinking career at the time. Before that, Malignaggi had lost two out of his last three fights. I don’t know that I was all that impressed with Malignaggi’s win over Diaz. After all, Malignaggi beat a fat looking lightweight and not a dangerous light welterweight like Bradley, Juan Urango, Victor Ortiz, Maidana, Ricardo Torres, and Devon Alexander. I think all of those fighters would easily beat Malignaggi, and not just them.
I see another five or six fighters in the top 15 that would likely do a number on Malignaggi as well. He’s a good fighter, but I don’t see him as being relevant in the light welterweight division other than a gate keeper of sorts. I would be disappointed if Khan were to choose him rather than Maidana, Ortiz, or Kendall Holt. I’d even settle for Khan facing recently beaten Lamont Peterson rather than Malignaggi. Of course, I think Peterson would have a great chance of beating Khan, but it would be a good fight because of Peterson’s power and high pressure offense.
Tags: 42 Responses to “Roach sees Khan-Malignaggi as a feasible next fight”
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and ow yeah scott salita was the ******* MANDATORY MAN – DA – TORY oppenent, meaning khan would be stripped of his belt if he didn’t fight him so how is salita ‘just another handpicked opponent’
HAHAHA scottt i see you have a new way of saying whats going to happen in a Khan fight,
first you used to say his opponent was very very good and then you would hope khan would get ko’d now you have a diffrent way lol
before every fight you say his opponent is the weakest untill now, then if khan wins your were right(which is extremly rare lol) and if khan loses then you can say khan go ko d by a weakk opponent so its a win win situation for you wow you did some thinking scott
and ohyeah ps you said salita was a veeeryyy goooood puncher, not weak but good and he would bruttally knock out khan and now all ofhte sudden he is just another weak handpicked opponent
Its not looking good for Manny or Mayweather. Now what is the problem with the blood test? Anyone care to tell me? I mean all athletes do it, they can do it straight after the fight? Or does that not work. Im lost with this subject! Anyone know?
Manny had my attention from the time he won the 2nd title in another weight division. Lets be honest Asish, you must be one of those who doesnt like people succeeding, you a Brit by any chance?
hasan pualie is not up and coming i think you will find hes been a round for sometime and by the way your all banging on about pacman when did he first grab your attention when king khon went to the wildcard ffs you ppl type utter s£%t
I agree with you Abdul. He is taltented and every great comes under critcism. Mallinaggi is up and coming and a challenger so bring it on. Amir will face the big names sooner or later and i think preferably later as the guy is still learning and if he keeps improving its frightening prospect. He is getting there!
Amir Khan is the most exciting fighter to come out of the UK since Naseem Hamed. He is fast developing to be one of those under Freddie to take the mantel off from the great Manny Pacquiao. The talented ‘Bolton Bomber’ is still learning and once he is ready i think he can take on the likes of Mayweather, Cotto etc. Patience, as every great boxer has gone through it, he will face them sooner or later and then show the world how good he is.
This is a GOOD MATCH, why, because both boxers are exciting and Khan’s next fight is during (even on the undercard) of pacquio-gayweather, meaning roach will be pre-occupied, thus warrenting a safer defence (although still exciting)…… if this author and his partner in bed Liam Santiago, had any boxing knowledge he would know this!
He talks the talks then he should walk the walk!!!he’s multi millionaire from the handling of Frank Warren a man who could steer a glass boat through the Anarchic,if Khan doesn’t pick his game up and his opponents he will keep getting criticism and for pity’s sake stop harking on he’s only 23 and and he still a boy,he’s man and should grow a pair!!!having said that Malignaggi would be a good match up he’s slick not a big puncher and can even out talk Khan for Bullsh!*.
Amir Khan, what can we say. He has undoubted talent, hand speed, powerful combinations and a great trainer. He is only a young boy and has plenty of time and certainly don’t think he should be rushed into a big fight. However that said they don’t want to let the talent stagnate against awful opponents, so there is a certain balancing act that needs to take place with this guy’s career. Example: Paquiao was KO’d prior to his partnership with Roach but look at him now. Saying that I think Manny has a chin ten times that of Khan. So it will be interesting to follow Khan’s career. If he (Khan) goes 12 rounds with a hard hitting opponent and withstands the test winning on points then I think that he gains credability, until then everyone will always question his chin!!
Good Article Scott. However, be fair to Amir, every champion no matter how great they were or how many wars they were in had a few easy defenses.
Khan cannot be expected to be in a war every time he fights. Let him have his first few defenses against the likes of Salita, Juan Urango and Paulie Mallinaggi (who is, as stated, a former World Champion) before and in between bouts with the likes of Bradley, Maidanna, Marquez and Holt.
There are much easier opponents out there at light-welterweight than Malinaggi.
come on now! he’s only 22.
kam i cant read your lilttle excuse making scrowt this man is no 23 just like hes fought a lightwelter 3 time as been beat twice (limond 14 count) deal with it boo whoo
Excellent fight for khan hes only 22 still on the learning curb forget all these haters there just jealous, khan will be the best hes got plenty of time.
Ive said in previous articles im happy for Khan to take his time with his career aslong as each step is a step up.
After Kotelnik and Salita i think Mallanaggi is a small step but still a step in the right direction.
Freddie Roach is the best trainer in the business. Forget the champions he trains look at the lesser known or lesser talented boxers. Roach gets every ounce of talent out of these guys. They aint world beaters but they certainly are the best they can be as boxers under his guidence.
And can somebody please tell Scott hes called Amir Khan not Amir Bredis Prescott Khan. We know who beat him, you dont have to remind us every single time. And as much as you wana see a repeat performance of that fight please accept that Khan is now a world champion at Lightwelterweight and Prescott is still working at Lightweight.
Roach has been the best trainer in the sport for a while now. I watch a fair few of his lesser known fighters in the ring and what is clear is that even though they aint world class Freddie Roach is able to squeeze out every ounce of talent these guys have to give. Under Roach these guys really are the best they can be.
I said in a recent post that im happy for Khan to take his time in his career aslong as he makes sure to take a step in the right direction each time he fights. After winning the WBA belt and then defending it against its number 1 ranked opponant (quality of which i dont care about about they had WBA credentials).
Surely a fight against Malanaggi is a step up from Salita. Not a big step, not a dangerous step but a step none the less.
nothing wrong with malignaggi..cotto couldnt take him out. khans doin jus fine,..plenty of time to take on better fighters..hes gonna prove a lot of people wrong
Malignaggi is hands down champion in all weight classes… of tickling contests, what with his powder-puff punches. Geez, he’s got 5 KOs in more than 30 bouts. Any opponent he faces will surely be dropped to the canvass… laughing from the ickling he’ll get.
Think this is a fight that makes good sense for Khan. I think his goal should obviously be to fight Bradley, the best fighter in the division. But he is yet to fight a decent light welter, so chuckin him in with best in his next fight would be stupid. Pauli is a winnable fight for Khan, while still presenting a challenge, Pauli’s recent success would also make this quite an attractive fight, which i think would sell pretty well, especially in the u.k.
I can’t say Malignaggi is a very exciting fight especially for Sky Box Office but it is what I expected. Also, I don’t see Juan Urango as a very dangerous light-welterweight.
P.S. Watch out for the unbeaten and very talented Paul McCloskey.
nova, roach is a very good trainer for a start he was an assistant to wlads trainer, he has 20 plus champs to his name and has been boxing writers trainer of the year 2-3 times, pacman has said that roach has helped him become a better fighter, he even calls him a father figure! and this is coming from a man who will be running to be president of his home country!
nova, roach is a quality trainer, he was assistant trainer to wlad, and has 20 + champs to his name also he has been named the boxers writers trainer of the year 2 or 3 times, to just say he has a name because of pacman is bollocks mate!
pauli is actually really good he will match khan with speed and beat him slickness
aidwan, I’m saying that Manny is a natuarl fighter and alot of top tier trainers would have had success with him. Roach is signing all these other fighters on the basis of his association with Manny. Before Manny, Roach was getting firsd by guys left and right from Hopkins to Klitschko to James Toney. You’ll see what happens AFTER Manny!
so supernova you are saying pacmam has become p4p one of the most dangerous fighters on this planet on his own??????
ther is no way he will fight paulie, a fight with maidana or ortiz is much more likely
aidwan, my comments aren’t a compliment. Roach can say anything he wants about anyone and he gets a pass but when anyone say’s anything about him “Oh God, How dare you?” F**k Freddie Roach. He’s not the sweet heart people want to beleive he is. Trust me. He got lucky Manny decided to take pity on him.
Alexander is younger than Khan, he holds the world title as well , and fights guys thAt can punch. This thing of Khan hiding behind his age is a joke, he is the most overhyped protected fighter on the circuit yet cliams to be great
tbh malignaggi would probably win every round against lamont petersen. i think it would be a good fight as both are good boxers, i dont think malignaggi wud have a problem with maidana either tbh. you underate paulie and this fight would be the biggest for khan atm other than bradley/hatton..
ROACH TALKS A LOT OF CRP, BUT WHEN PAC RETIRES THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD SEE HE IS THE BIGGEST CHERRY-PICKING BULL-SH..TER. HE WAS EVEN TALKING OF MATCHING KHAN WITH MORALES,A BANTAM WHO HAS´NT FOUGHT IN OVER 3 YEARS.
supanova i hope you are proved wrong, and your comments on roach are f*cked up
punk!
What a surprise!! Roach wants to put his boy in against ANOTHER fighter who has no punch. It’s become so obvious that Roach is scared sh**less of putting Khan in with ANYONE who has anything remotely resembling a punch that this has become laughable. Roach is telling people with these kind of acknowldgements that Amir will be steered towards light punching opponents. Even my British friends understand that Amir will not fight Bradley, he won’t fight Maidana, he won’t fight Ortiz, he won’t fight Holt and he probably won’t fight Nate Campbell either because Freddie will not let him get knocked out again. Sorry, Freddie. After Manny retires you’re just another drooling bum trying to act important.
its ok for n,dou, diaz, hatton, cotto, to fight malignaggi with more ring savy and experience.but not a young khan who as just broke into the 140lb division and won a world title.i think its a great match.malignaggi comes to win good movement got skills clever coming of a good win.ideal opp
gotta say, not an absolute sham of an article from yourself scott, but khan is young, plenty of time to fight the likes of alexander and bradley, let him and paulie have it out, be good to see that smug punk paulie on his back! i think khan has a long way to go and can see a bright future for him, you can see roach and his team have been working on his neck and leg muscle to withstand a hard punch, but time will tell if we will if he can withstand it, i hope so because i think he takes to much flak and he has potential to be a great!
Well, why am I not surprised … Mallinaggi – hand picked for harmlessness, I guess ?!! Khan could do far better.
malignaggi a quality boxer with fast hands, and very slippery. i dont think alexander would trouble khan, neither will maidana and urango.
What a suprise! Freddie putting Khan in against ANOTHER guy who CAN’T punch!! It’s so fkin’ obvious that Roach is scared stless of putting Amir in with anyone who has anything remotely resembling a punch that its becoming laugable. What about Bradley? What about Ortiz? What about Kendall Holt? What about Victor Ortiz? What about Nate Campbell? Roach is full of st!!
at least this would be a worth opponent.
This is a perfect match up in favor of Amir Khan.Paulie has no power and Amir has just as much speed if not more than Malignaggi.They should have this fight in the US to get Khan some exposer to the American audience.
Then Khan should go after a unification bout with Urango.Devon Alexander and Tim bradley would be too much for Khan at this stage in his career.But I look forward to those fight later on down the line.
Why are people expecting Khan to take the high risk fights next it would just ruined his career??
They are taking there time Malignaggi is a good step up and for bigger fights and then you can think about Bradley, Alexander etc
Gilfoird****
Spot on Gilfpird. Totally agree…………