Does Juan Manuel Marquez have enough left to beat Amir Khan?
January 31st, 2010
By William Mackay: With the news that World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO’s) could be moving up in weight to fight WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) on May 15th, for Khan’s U.S. debut fight, I have to wonder whether Marquez, at 36, has enough left to beat the young 23-year-old Khan. I have little doubts that if Marquez was in his early 30s or in his 20s, he would handle Khan without too many problems and knock him out cold.
Even in the Pacquiao fights, Marquez was good at getting out of the way of many of Pacquiao’s shots. However, Marquez looked visibly slower after moving up to the lightweight division, and is getting hit way too much now compared to before. In Marquez’s last fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year in September, Marquez moved up in weight to the welterweight division and looked horrible at 143. Marquez was even slower and didn’t fight well after the first couple of rounds. This is why Marquez may have big problems against the bigger, quicker 23-year-old Khan.
Amir is three inches taller than Marquez at 5’10” and has a four inch reach advantage. The reach advantage will be huge for Khan, because his trainer Freddie Roach won’t be wanting to take any chances with Khan’s fragile chin and will likely be giving him marching orders to jab Marquez nonstop all night and stay away from him. The fight, if it does take place, will obviously take place at light welterweight (140).
That’s a bad weight for Marquez. If he looks bad at lightweight, you can only imagine that he’ll be even worse at a higher weight. This is a fight that benefits Khan almost completely. He has the speed, size, youth and foot speed going for him. Will that be enough to get by Marquez’s ring experience, boxing skills and his counter punching ability. That’s the big question. Khan has most of the factors going for him, but he still hasn’t fought anyone with the skills that Marquez possesses.
Khan does have a victory over Marco Antonio Barrera, but you can dismiss that fight because it only went five rounds and Barrera spent three of them blinded by blood leaking into his eyes after suffering a horrible cut on his forehead in the 2nd round. Barrera was also 35 at the time the fight took place, and only recently had moved up in weight to the lightweight division.
Marquez, if he has anything left, could take Khan apart unless Amir runs all night long for 12 rounds. Khan moved a great deal in his win over Andriy Kotelnik last year, but seemed to tire late in the fight and take punishment. I don’t expect that Marquez will be able to catch up to Khan early. Khan will be moving way too much for Marquez to get a good shot in.
However, if Marquez stays at it, he could catch Khan later when he fades somewhat and starts becoming more stationary. I can see Khan also getting caught if he gets brave from success. If he starts doing well, Khan might get bold and try to show off with combinations in front of the U.S. crowd and could get caught.
As we saw in Khan’s 1st round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in 2008, it doesn’t take that hard of a shot to hurt him. Khan was staggered by a hard jab in that fight. If Marquez can counter one of Khan’s shots, he could hurt him. Once Khan is hurt, Marquez can then pour it on and take him out like Prescott did.
Tags: 41 Responses to “Does Juan Manuel Marquez have enough left to beat Amir Khan?”
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JMM will knock out Amir Khan in the 3rd round.
jmm the galantry champion boxer of all time
both have the external motivation!khan to be taken seriously.JMM to be champion in 4 divisions time to make history in a country of fighters MEXICO.Marquez will not quit!I believe he wins.good fight to see.
I go for Khan by UD unless marquez catches him and KO him.
Good points don im of to the other article pal shakeebs on the war path ha ha ha .
dont no why he slates me im an amir fan.
But been a boxing fan surely means debate and reason he acts like a cat backed in a corner sayin the same stuff.
@ Anonymous
Couldn’t agree more on the Peterson front thats why i didn’t even mention his name! There is cause for Bradley being over-rated but i do think he’s quite slippery and does have a bit of power, certainly enough to trouble Khan anyway. I would like to see the Malignaggi v Khan fight too and think that one would be very competitive as they’re very similar in many ways although Khan definitely has the edge in power but Malignaggi has a granite chin and if Cotto couldn’t stop him then Khan has no chance as ref’s don’t step in quite so easily at that level!
@ don
I agree paulie would be a good fight for khan.
Bradley for me is overrated in my opinion
Peterson=salita in my eyes if you no what i mean!
@ Anonymous
I can see your point but a K.O rate doesn’t always give the full story. I meant that Khan has never knocked anyone out cold in the fashion that he was knocked out for example. His ko’s are more a product of the other fighter being overwhelmed by his lightning fast flurries and the ref stepping in. The kid is talented no doubt but i think Malignaggi beats him by a close SD or again gets robbed, Bradley by possible TKO, Hatton also beats him by TKO, Urango by KO and Alexander by TKO.Again just my opinion but im by no means psychic!
@ don
Im with you with the mitchell issue.
Amir has a 69% ko rate!!!!!!
Come on then lets debate who beats khan at 140!!!!!!!!!
Also anonymous Khan has no real power and has never knocked anybody out!
@ Anonymous
Khan is very beatable, he side stepped british title level and made a name beating the dregs of former world title challengers and a shot Barrera who came up in weight, was wiped out by Prescott who was then exposed as rubbish twice & one of those times by a super feather weight. Wake up mate it appears you have been brain washed!
Hey don i aint asian you hating for no reason
open your eyes people who is going to beat KHANIVORE!!!!
maidana will be outboxed.
marquez too slow at 140 RING LEGEND.
bradley no power
paulie no power
if marquez impresses from the first round, he will knock out khan…nobody knows what marquez has been up to lately or how he will fight at 140, i strongly beleive hes been training like never before after his decison loss to floyd…expect a huge and impressive comeback for marquez.
MARQUEZ WILL BEAT KHAN WITH NO PROBLEM, HE MITE BE OLD BUT HE GOT DA EXPERIENCE. LOOK WAT HAPPEN TO BABY BULL N CASAMAYOR EVERYBODY KNOWS HE BEAT PACQUIAO TWICE HIS JUST DA BEST. JJM ERES EL MEJOR!!!
I think it’s unfair to keep going on about khans chin. Until he gets caught with a big shot by a light welter and his reaction we should give him his due as a champion. His punch resistance may of improved with the extra weight.
Roach know that Marquez will be very slow and Khan is very fast mark my words today he he Tko Marquez by Round 12 and will and Marquez will look more bad than against Floyd
What ever happens in this fight khans critics will NOT be silenced at all,He needs to fight Maidana or prescot genuine punchers and that scares the living daylights out of khan and his team. If willi limond can floor khan then maidana certainly can but they are NOT going to let that happen so they try to pull the wool over the fans eyes yet again , and those followers who succumb to their trickery are blinded by the light instead of the facts.
sure i give khan some credit…but he really hasnt fought any good names…and marquez has about 1 maybe 2 years left in him..so im going with marquez in late k.o.
I understand gbp wanting to put him against a named fighter but considering what Mayweather did to him, i don’t think Marquez will allow some young punk who just got ktfo use him to get his name up.
JMM will beat Khan hand down from the Professor, That’s just the FACT.
Khan by KO!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAH! Not in a million years!! Marquez has wayyy to much experience. You “I love my country” boxing fans crack me up!!!
@shakeeb
if u read one of my earlier posts you can tell I’m actually a fan of khan. But if pacquiao twice and mayweather can’t stop him how can u honestly believe khan will? I agree khan COULD beat marquez using his speed and movement but I don’t agree marquez will be stopped
Boxingfandan – How do you know if its fun to lick Khans balls, you trying to tell us something, I said 3 -4 rounds, the latest being 4, YOu relly think Marquez can handle the pressures of Khan? YOu must be on planet mars.
@shakeeb nawaz
do u know anything about boxing!? Except for how fun it is to lick khans balls. WTF are u talking about? Khans speed is impressive yes he has good footwork yes, and he has alot of potential. But stopping marquez in 4 rounds!? Are u crazy!?
This fight will silence all those critics who think Khans dodging the tougher fights. Marquez is as good as he ever was, but will not have enough to beat Khan. Khan will make short work of this, 3 – 4 rounds max. A flurry of shots will daize marquez and the ref will jump in to stop it. No one can say anything about Khan now, He deserves this break.
There’s no way khan knocks out marquez. People who say that need to look at the facts. Khan is not a big puncher, he just overwhelms opponents with his speed. But it won’t be a problem for marquez, add that to the amount of times marquez has been dropped and got back up, especially against manny pacquiao, and khan hasn’t got a cat in hells chance of stopping this dude. I’d have to say if khan stamina has improved khan by UD, if he tires like he did in the kotelnik fight I’d favour marquez by either SD ot late k.o
Is this guy kidding? Marques is still a top 5 pound4pound fighter and a huge step up for Khan, Goldenboy are known not to protect fighters (unlike a certain Frank)so give Khan some credit…
Remember everyone said Marquez was too old for Juan Diaz, what happend, Marquez schooled him
I think this is a 50/50 toss up. If marquez’ speed is just at 70 percent of what it used to be he can still win as long as his timing is dead on like it always used to be. And reflexes fade the older you get.Thats my fear, that marquez wont have the timing and reflexes to win this fight.
In the other hand, how many times has marquez suprised us? They said casamayor would knockout marquez cuz he’s too small and belongs at featerweight. They said the babybull would destroy him cuz he throws too many punches and is bigger. Marquez knocked them both out. His miracolous comeback against pac and lasting 12 rounds with the best ring tactician in the business. This guy is a warrior and a TRUE champion.
My heart says marquez. Facts say it could go eitherway.
I agree with Patriot. I was even surprised that jmm could not land a solid punch to pbf and he looked so slow, weak and tired during the latter rounds.
Will be good fight good luck to both fighters love for all.
Marquez will win on boxing intelligence,experience,good counterpunching,patience and a true fighters heart.Too much of everything for a younger faster Kahn.
Marquez’s age is not a factor because he’s been busy over the years. He is also not a “shot” fighter. Welter weight is definately not his weight, but he did look good at 135 against Diaz. Only hesitation that I have is if he will be effective at 140. At the same time, Khan is totally unproven so maybe this is a good money fight for Marquez as he goes back down to 135.
marquez wins , much better boxer, marquez by tko
Haha this is Juan Manuel Marquez we talking about here. The man who frustruated the he’ll out of pacquiao & Freddie roach twice,knocked out the most decorated Cuban fighter of this decade & destroyed a young hungry lion by the name of -baby bull- Juan Diaz. Don’t let his shut down by pbf foul u! He’s still top 5 p4p in the world. God knows I love Khan. But I don’t think he’s ready for Marquez. I’m surprised Freddy Roach is letting him take this fight. I guess Freddy started to believe in the hype of him being a miracle maker coz he’s not. They shoulda gave the kid some more time. Paulie Mali or Juan Diaz two very recognizable face in the US to help Khan his introduction to America. Not Juan Mofo’n Marquez! They lost they’re god damn mind
and another thing everyone keeps putting khan down !!! that fight against presscot he had a lucky punch !!! that could happen to any fighter i recko mexico’s boy will have the fight of his life !!!!!!!!!!!!! tell me one person in boxing that can throw 5 punches in a second ?????????……………… oh no no one can !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marquez will destroy him
A lot of high hope are embedded in Marquez mind. A PPv rating, a chance to fight Manny again and now beating Amir. What else in his mind? i Can’t think of anything. Reality is painful doze of ego.
patriot would you mind sharing that arrogance you see in amir?
Khan will do a much better job on marquez then floyd did mark my words. Marquez was ready to be taken out that fight but Floyd just throws one punch at a time. Marquez struggles above 135 and is slow don’t be surprised if Khan stops him. Khan is much taller then Floyd and will carry speed, height and reach advantage just like Floyd did this will be one sided.
Not Bradbury it’s meant to be headbutt lol
jj marquez by ko!!!!