Don King talks Khan and Haye – News

By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Don King had some good advice for World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan, telling him to “come out of hiding” and start facing some fighters in an article from Steve Bunce at the Mirror. Speaking about Khan, King says “I told Amir that he has to come out of hiding and fight one of the champions. I had a fight with my world champion Devon Alexander lined up but Amir ran away from his promoter Frank Warren and ran away from the deal. Amir is a nice young man but he needs to come out of hiding and get on the bus to the big time.”

Besides the bout against the talented Alexander, Khan, 23, also had a chance to fight knockout artist WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana (27-1, 26 KO’s) for his next fight, but instead chose to fight the feather-fisted Paulie Malignaggi on May 15th. This will be Khan’s debut fight in the United States, and according to him, he wants to fight an opponent that is better known to the U.S. boxing public.

Fair enough, but you would think that a fight against Maidana should at least come after the Malignaggi fight, wouldn’t you? Khan likely won’t fight the hard hitting Maidana until three fights later in 2011, if at all. Maidana has a fight coming up against Victor Cayo on March 27th.

The perception that some boxing fans have is that Khan is being selectively matched to keep him away from fighters that could test his sometimes weak chin. Maidana, Alexander and some of the other light welterweights in the division would definitely do that if they could get a fight against Khan.

King seems to think very highly of WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s), saying “Haye can be a big star at heavyweight and he has to realize that and start acting like a star at the negotiating table. There is demand for Haye and it reminds me of when I promised Ali and Foreman five million dollars each for their fight – people said that I was mad.”

I don’t think that Haye needs to be any more assertive at the bargaining table. He seems to do alright for himself in that particular area as far as I can tell. What Haye needs to do is start stepping it up a level in choosing his opponents. For all his bold talk, Haye has only fought three heavyweights – Tomasz Bonin, Monte Barrett and Nikolay Valuev – and hasn’t taken on anyone really dangerous.

Haye had a chance to fight both of the Klitschko brothers, but backed out with a sudden injury in the Wladimir bout and bailed on Vitali entirely choosing instead Valuev. Next, Haye will be facing 38-year-old John Ruiz on April 3rd. That will be Haye’s second 38-year-old heavyweight he’s faced in the past two years. Haye, if he can get by Ruiz, needs to target the Klitschko brothers instead of milking his title. I’m hoping Haye does that, but I’m not holding my breath. My guess is Haye will either fight Valuev next in a rematch or maybe go after 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins in a winnable fight.

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