Schaefer looking to match Khan against Marquez, Diaz, and Malignaggi – News
January 23rd, 2010
By William Mackay: Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN, is looking at matching World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) up against one of the following opponents for his debut fight in the United States on April 10th: Juan Manuel Marquez, Paulie Malignaggi, or Juan Diaz rather than WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana. Rafael says that HBO is “very interested” in Khan facing the 36-year-old Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO’s) next.
But in this case, Marquez may have enough left to still destroy a fighter like Khan. In his prime, this is likely as easy fight for Marquez to win. However, Marquez, a featherweight as recent as 2006, didn’t look at all good in moving up to 143 to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September in a welterweight bout. Marquez appeared bloated and slow at that weight. Although a fight against Khan would be held at light welterweight (140), it still isn’t a good weight for Marquez.
You would have to consider the 5’10” Khan as having the clear advantage if the fight is held at light welterweight rather than lightweight. Ignoring the size and weight issues for this fight, bring in good ratings and possibly halfway decent pay-per-view numbers if that’s the way that HBO wants to go with this fight.
I don’t know how much interest there would be by non-British fans in the U.S. for this fight, because no one outside of hardcore boxing fans has ever heard of Khan. There are a couple of problems with making this fight right off the bat. Marquez is in the running for a fight with the much more popular Ricky Hatton. If Marquez takes the fight with Khan, he’ll likely make a lot less money than he would for a fight against Hatton.
Also, Marquez will obviously want to be paid well if he’s being used as stepping stone for a younger fighter like Khan to look good against. Then there’s the issue of Maidana. The WBA has directed that Khan face Maidana next. If he wants to skip that fight, which is a very tough one for Khan because of Maidana’s huge power and Khan’s glass jaw, then Maidana is likely going to have to receive step aside money unless Khan vacates his title.
That’s a fight that boxing fans want to see, but Khan’s trainer, Freddie Roach, and Golden Boy Promotions aren’t in a hurry to put Khan in against a slugger like Maidana. It’s not hard to see why. Maidana already destroyed one of Golden Boy’s prized prospects Victor Ortiz in a 6th round knockout last year, and they probably don’t want to risk Khan against Maidana after that. Ortiz looks positively rugged compared to Khan in my view. Maidana could destroy Khan quite fast if they were to throw Amir to the powerful Argentinean fighter.
As for the other opponents, Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi, those fights could be a lot easier to put together than a Marquez-Khan fight. Those are winnable fights for Khan, but not necessarily ones where he will shine in. Malignaggi could end up making Khan appear clumsy and awkward with his style of fighting. Even if Khan wins that fight, he could lose with the fans.
Tags: 22 Responses to “Schaefer looking to match Khan against Marquez, Diaz, and Malignaggi – News”
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there should be just one belt at each weight…nothing more…and you can only earn a shot at it by getting up the rankings… khan wouldn’t be champ then it would be someone of some class…Khan’s career would be over by now…
marquez would not be an easy fight but at 140 he would be slower which would be perfect for khan to outbox him all night long. marquez wouldnt have the speed to counter khan.
You guys don’t get it.
Khan’s trainer, and his promoters know that he is not ready to get into the ring with Maidana. Just read between the lines. What do you want? a public apology?
I recently read khan was about to engage with maidana in his next fight, and from what i read now he is NOT? this is a farce to say the least if he genuinely wants respect from boxing fans then he must engage with a worthy apponant who can punch to eliminate the prescot defeat. If mitchel can school prescot like he did recently then surely amir can with his undoubted skills after all prescot and maidan only have a decent punch to rely on..
Guys you need to understand its all about money. Khan doesn’t want to loose his belt. If the fight doesn’t happen then its not Khan’s fault. It will be Maidana’s decision to to step a side not Khans. Its golden boy an freddie that have proposed Maidana to step aside not Khan. Khan is up 4 fighting Maidana any time….its just high risk low return an this moment in time.
@ jimmy
agreed jimmy.
I just think kahn should fight maidana first to put the prescott deafeat to bed and it would gain him a huge amount of respect with fans
then take on marquez paulie etc
peace
@ delboy.
I totally agree with you as to marquez is not the same above 135, but he was marked as a good opponent for mayweather but when he is mentioned to fight khan people saying hes not good enough? That shows bias against the fighter. It would be a really good fight for khan and will take him to the trenches. Malignaggi would be an even tougher fight to him. maidana is not in the same class as khan but he has the power to turn the fight in one punch so that will bring excitement.
@ jimmy
You are missing the point floyd made marquez move up in weight to face him and even then he didnt make weight did you see the size diffrence????
Marquez is a true warrior and will fight anyone but he isnt the same fighter above 135 he cannot carry the weight effectively.
Example did the marquez who fought floyd look like the marquez who fought pac??? NO because he was too big too slow think about it jimmy.
If only Valero was here and wanted to step up a weight class! Good night Amir.
Khan needs to fight a puncher to put the ghost of Prescott to rest.
if this fight happends Marquez wins by K.O in the 9
good artical veri true about pauli
sorry to say guys but if marquez was gud enuf to fight mayweather in his last fight how would that be an easy fight for khan? good enuf for mayweather but not good enuf for khan? that makes sense, NOT. Perhaps he should fight marquez, hatton and maidana all at once to please all the haters.?
‘mario’ – if you think the head clash in the Khan-Barrera fight was intentional by Khan, you clearly haven’t seen the fight! I’m not Khan’s biggest fan but a dirty fighter he isn’t!
If they want to a safe test, and have a successful introduction of Khan to the American boxing funs then they have to go for Malignaggi. I am not saying he will beat the Magic Man but i think he has a better chance.
How can people think marquez would be an easy fight!!!! Marquez would be a tougher fight then slugging maidana
ive said all along amir would defeat the heavy handed maidana but now he is going to lose respect by taking on a 135 at 140 marquez who is a legend in my eyes but is not effective above 135 if he avoids maidana he will never ever gain the respect off true boxing fans only casual fans at best .
Amir is a champion defend your title against maidana your mandatory challenger.
Boxing is becomming a joke people with this cherrypicking noncence.
And i mean no disrespect to the named boxers in this article meaning they would all give amir a run for his money i just think its time for amir to show he can come back from the prescott deafeat properly and deafeat a ko artist at his own game
Marquez is a super-feather or lightweight at max. Khan wont get respect for fighting old, small, slow, out of their weight fighters. He’d get more respect for having the guts to fight Maidana. Whats the big deal anyway, if he’s as good as we’re told he should be able to outbox a one-dimensional slugger. Maidana has earned his shot at the title its only fair that the champion stand there and fight him for it
so khan has ducked maidana. his whole career is a farce. i just refuse to watch anymore of his fights again, ever.
I don’t wanna see Marquez-Khan. Marquez is too old now, and he can’t handle the weight. He didn’t look that good at 135 (was pretty even with an old Casamayor and a young, B or C class Diaz), and looked HORRIBLE at 142. I’m almost positive he’d look just as bad at 140 because its only 2 pounds less. I can see Khan winning this just as easily as Mayweather did, and possibly in knockout fashion because he will fight on the inside.
Khan needs to fight Maidana, and Marquez needs to fight Katsidis or Hatton. Better matchups, and definitely more entertaining.
I think khan will lose all 4 lol!! Am still askin myself who is this guy? The guy got off barrera with a headbutt which was intentional but barrera was in there fightin him toe to toe
I think khan should fight maidana he will gain a lot of respect and fans for going in to fight with him. and then he will have chance to prove he hasnt got a glass jaw like he says he hasnt. i think khan would beat him!