Amir Khan: “He’s [Malignaggi] not at my level”
February 11th, 2010
By Eric Thomas: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) feels that his planned next opponent Pauli Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) isn’t as good as him in terms of skills. Khan says “He’s [Malignaggi] not at my level. He has a few good wins in America, but it’s another fight for me and I’ll go there and do what I have to do.” Khan was planning on fighting Juan Manuel Marquez on May 15th, but there hasn’t been any contact from Marquez to Khan’s promotional company Golden Boy Promotions recently, so Khan has decided to pick another opponent for his debut fight in the U.S.
Certainly an argument can be made that the charismatic Malignaggi has been only beaten twice in his career by Cotto and Hatton. There’s no shame in losing to either of those fighters. Those would be tough fights for even a talented fighter like Khan to have to deal with. I think Khan has it in him to beat Hatton and Cotto, but they would be a handful none the less.
Khan has some recent history with Malignaggi after the two went at each other in a hilarious Twitter war recently. Both Malignaggi and Khan took turns flaming each other. Khan usually isn’t one to respond to criticism from fighters, but something in Malignaggi’s insults brought it out in Khan.
If he has it his way, Khan would like his fight against Malignaggi to take place at Madison Square Garden, in New York. Malignaggi is from New York, and Khan wants to beat him in front of his own fans. Khan says “I want to fight him [Malignaggi] in his home town and beat him in his home town in front of his own people.” It looks like Khan is still a little upset over some of the remarks that Malignaggi made towards him. One of the things that Malignaggi said about Khan is that he thought he was afraid to fight WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana. Malignaggi said if it was him, he’d fight Maidana.
Khan says “When it does happen, I’m just going to go in there [Madison Square Garden] and do what I normally do. I think Malignaggi has a style which is going to make me look good.” Malignaggi doesn’t have much power and tends to use a hunt and peck style of fighting rather than trying to slug it out with his opponents.
It’s important that Khan not only beat Malignaggi, but beat him impressively so that Amir can win fans in his debut fight in the United States. If Khan is made to struggle against Malignaggi or lose, it will make it much harder for him to become a huge mega star like his hero Manny Pacquiao.
Tags: 53 Responses to “Amir Khan: “He’s [Malignaggi] not at my level””
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Paulie is a feather duster puncher and so on,but he can fight and he has a lot of HEART and that you can not give a fighter he has or he doesnt.
I think he can beat this guy, he is fighting good and he has the (fringe trunks), also he has been in with some tough guys like 12 rds with a Prime Cotto
Its amazing the hatred so many have for Khan, when I bet most of the people typing these demeaning comments about Khan are like me and have never even seen him fight. The word is he got knocked out by a guy named Prescott who I’ve never heard, in the 1st round. And that he’s ducking a big puncher in Maidana. It appears the WBA ruled Maidana isn’t a mandatory for Khan’s next fight. Hearing a guy got knocked out by no one spectacular and that he’s ducking a power puncher does give a bad impression. But GBP seems to think he’s good and Roach is working with him. Can anyone else remember when everyone was screaming that Wladimir Klitshcko had a glass chin and could never overcome it?? Maliginaggi has absolutely no power, but he is a good boxer. And I don’t see Marquez as being any pushover. Regardless of who Khan faces next, assuming he wins he will be forced to fight Maidana or give up the title. If Khan forfeits the title and faces some nobody then all the criticism will be justified, but he’s in a stacked division. There are fighters like Bradley, Alexander, Maidana, and Valero out there just to name a few. All but Bradley are big punchers and many consider Bradley to be the best at 140. Khan will definitely get in the ring with some A grade fighters, so I think its a little early to declare a verdict on him just yet. He’s only 23!! I say give the guy a break and wait and see who he fights and how he looks before rushing to condemn the man.
The first puncher Khan faces will do the same as what Prsescott did to him. Unless Khan gets a chin transplant of course. Hell, even his legs resemble a newborn Giraffe’s if he gets hit by anything other than a jab!
khan beat cotto lmao. even cotto as shot as he is now would beat khan easy.khan=over rated ducker!
Khan is the best fighter in the 140 division… He is making millions while you haters just type away on the net, do u really think he cares what u think hahaha
ive always sed i would not have ppv for khan,and now this proves why.
Amir Khan is a coward and every Brittish boxing fan knows it! Don’t expect big things from him period. Even Freddie Roach can’t help him. I hope he fights malignaggi and loses by majority decision! Hopefully he will then disapeer and stop robbing us of our box office fees
I’m british but I can’t stand Amir Khan. He never faces big punchers because his chin is like a beanbag. He got beat by Bredis Prescott and won’t face Maidana. He is fighting Malinaggi who only has 5 KO’s in his career. My point proven. Roach does exactly the same with Khan as he does with Pacquiao…chooses easy fights or washed up fighters e.g. Barrera.
yeh, it would be funny
wouldnt it be so funny if Khan got knocked out by the weak punching Mallignaggi?
id rather get knocked out by a big puncher like Maidana than someone who has 16 percent kncokout ratio lol
IVE SEEN EGGS WITH STRONGER CHINS
I see this to be one hell of a boarin fight both of them are good fighters but not world class, and when ppl say that khan will be a P2P champ in a few years need to rember that most fighters look good when they are fightin nobodys at the start but when they gat in the ring with someone good it could me lights out for them and thir careers!!…..
Khan is mug! The brits dont like him anyway! Thats why weve deported him to the yanks the fake champs!
Khan is a paper champion…nuff said! Not in my level? As much as i hate Paulie – this dude has been in the ring with Cotto, Diaz, Hatton etc. Khan who?.. Salita and a faded Barerra!
Personaly i for one am sick of Khans exscuses no wonder he gets so much stick from genuine fight fans.I for one would prefer to watch Dave Boy Mcauly the lad from Larne Ireland and he was a chef first and formost but boy that lad showed some true guts when he was in the ring.And compared to Amir he was a nobody but give me that kind every time to the cherry picking possers of the trade
At the end of the day de julio most british people dislike Khan too so banging on about england and argentina just makes you look a fool! Say what you like about Khan but don’t attack the whole nation!
In fairness we don’t really know what level Khan is on yet as he hasn’t been in with anyone world class Barrera aside for obvious reasons! But still only time will tell and at least he’s fighting a legitimate light welter weight and former world champion!
@ 9 de julio
The only thing frustrating me is the crap that you keep on posting. Who cares about England v Argentina? This is a boxing forum. If you don’t want to talk boxing go elsewhere!
Malignaggi is all talk – Hatton bust him up over 11 one sided rounds and I think Khan will go one better and actually knock him spark out somewhere around the 6th round.
you know, I once saw boxer say ‘why would I say they were rubbish? That would mean I beat a rubbish boxer’
Khan you are a complete ass…real boxing fans in this country know what you are about… a jumped up arrogant tool who has had everything gifted to him…
I hope paulie schools you at boxing
If Khan says Malignaggi isnt on his level why is he fighting him?
He should have fought Maidana, If Khan wants respect off boxing fans he isn’t really going the right way about it.
Its just fighting talk between the two of them to drum up business. It seems to be working.
I think once khan beat paulie, he is going to fight madaina. You cannot fight two mandatories at a time. If khan beats madaina and people still critice him, we know they are wrong
Also,how can Victor Ortiz get a fight against Campbell and Maidana is fighting Cayo who is “better known” in his house..Maidana KO’d Ortiz and he hasn’t gotten a good fight since then..Maidana has a lot to loose and nothing to win against Cayo and Ortiz will likely beat Campbell and then get a shot at Khan (if Khan beats Paulie).Wait and see..Maidana will be left aside and if he does not change promoters he will not get good fights anytime soon.
How can Amir Khan be calling the shots here when he hasn’t beaten anybody..Oscar de la Hoya is going to protect this guy and I will be very surprised if he ever fights Maidana.He should’ve fought him right after Maidana beat Ortiz..Now the circus is on..We will have to shove Khan down our throats because DLH will not risk by fighting him against tough oponents..Shame on Khan and De la Hoya,who by the way,co-promotes Maidana.
Amir Khan the new dumba## of boxing. I don’t like Malignaggi as a fighter, but I’m actually rooting for Malignaggi in this fight. Khan should’ve taken the Maidana fight, but he was too scared to get knocked out. Malignaggi isn’t really known for knocking people out, but I hope he gets to knock Khan out. Amir Khan doesn’t deserve to get all the hype and publicity he has been getting lately. He has to prove himself against the best to say anything like “He’s not on my level.”
I laugh at these boxers who claim that ____ “isn’t at my level.” LOL.
If they’re not at “your level” then why are you fighting them?
Maliggnagi is made to get beat up by a fighter like Khan. Khan can match his speed, boxing ablity and Khan can punch a lot harder. Khan should be used to boxing guys like Maliggnagi in the amatuers. The tapping punches and the hit and run is all from the amatuers. If Khan cant beat Maliggnagi then he’s not world a class champion.
Wait a second; Malignaggi said Khan’s afraid of Maidana, and it upset Khan so much, he decided to prove Malignaggi right, by giving up his title to not fight Maidana??? Malignaggi would be good if he had the slightest power, but a 12 year old girl could walk through Pauli’s punches. He’s a very skilled boxer, but an A level fighter should be able to beat him. There are opponents like Alexander, Maidana, Bradley, and Valero for Khan to prove himself. Although where are Valero’s fights going to take place? Arum will probably throw a card together in Mexico with him and Margacheato on it.
This guy Khan will be beaten by Paulie he has Freddie roach in his corner but Freedie will not be the one fighting, Paulie is fighting at his best right now this should be fun. Paulie would get a lot more respect if he would NOT wear those Stupid Trunks , what the hell, does he think all those fringes will make him a better fighter?
Make this fight happen. i want to see this execution take place. Khan to win easy by KO or stoppage.
My boy Paulie gonna take care of him for me…oh, btw, anybody heard from my girl candi holyfield?
A guy who cant punch vs a guy who cant take a punch
Mallignaggi by UD
LoooooL khan grow a pair bish u aint all that yourself!!
This would actually be a good fight IMO. Khan has no chin and Paulie has no punch.
Sorry for drifting off the subject i belive khan has made vast improvments after seeing him in the fight with barrera but even an old barrera was able to rock him with one good left hook before the end of the fight.
im reallybeginning to like khan, he is gonna become p4p champ one day whether you like it or not, destined to become gr8, one of the gr8est british boxers ever, i see that in him… good luck mate if u read this,
although its true paulie aint as good as khan, but he has faced much better opposition then khan, but then again styles makes fighs, paulie runs and runs and runs, if he goes toe to toe with hatton or cotto hes out in 1 round, i see this as a boring fight becoz under roach khan is gonna be careful and pick his shots not the same crazy gung ho pre prescott khan anymore
When oh when will Khan be put in with a puncher?? Genuinely believe Malignaggi couldnt punch his way out of a (silver rizla) paper bag.Hope Paulie outpoints Khan just to throw a spanner in this obvious matchmaking nonsense.
LoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooL
Tonyevs:
“I don`t see Khan winning over the USA fans. They won`t take too well to him being protected and fed non-punchers for too long.”
& yet roy jones jr is one of the most popular us boxers of the last 20 years…being “protected” & “fed non-punchers” describes his career to a T. it’s also true of mike tyson. US fans are sheep. if khan blows away a bunch of guys (starting with paulie) he’ll be huge.
I don`t see Khan winning over the USA fans. They won`t take too well to him being protected and fed non-punchers for too long.
Paulie could win this quite easilly. As much as a non-puncher he is – he does hit hard enough to KO the china chinned Khan. Who has Khan beaten who compares to Malignaggi??
khans time to shine is here
Whats wrong with khan ever since he beat an OLD! barrera he thinks hes god, hes a classy fighter but i think his on cloud 9 at the moment.
Finally a more balanced article about khan on this site… William and Scott are just pure nobs how there still writing boxing articles I will never know.. Not many british fighters have really made it big in America and I think Amit will be the first to make it as mega star… But still us Brits can’t get behind him and support him.. I mean the kid is only 23 and has only had 23 fights and he wants to fight permanent in the states good on him… Shows a lot of guts, bottle and determination..
He would beat maidana, Bradley and urango… Alexander would be a good fight…
a hope khan dus im paulie is so morngy in everyfight hes lost he cnt take it dat he looses n hes dukin khan he no’s khan has more power n alot of more speed a fink khan will stop paulie khan needs 2 fight juam diaz even tho paulie won diaz but diaz still betta
Could very well bring out the best in Paulie. Plus, we’d be seeing Khan in a valid contest.
Win – Win.
Khan is acting like a tosser.
cotto, hatton, diaz. way better than an old barrera. that’s the one star on khan’s ledger. i hope paulie beats this kid.
Just seen the video with Kon Kan’t he’s got a big head and even bigger mouth, i can’t wait to see paulie work his Macic on Kon Kan’t.
a chicken in the making, khan wont fight anyone good ever
and thats the only reason khan wants the fight. anyone on his level would be disregarded-a chicken in the making.
Whats the point in fighting someone who is not at your level?I hope Malignaggi beats him to shut him up