Khan: 100%, we all know I’m cleaning up the 140 lb. division before moving up to 147

By Boxing News - 03/10/2013 - Comments

khan52By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) is still convinced that he’ll be cleaning up the light welterweight division and then moving up in weight to 147 to go after Floyd Mayweather Jr. and all of the straps up there. However, Khan’s lack of success recently suggests otherwise.

Khan said on his social media site, “100% we all know I’ll clean up the division before I move up to 147.”

The plan that Khan’s promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions has for Khan is for him to face eventual winner of a pair of bouts between Danny Garcia vs. Zab Judah and Lucas Matthysse vs. Lamont Peterson. Schaefer wants the Garcia-Judah winner to face the Matthysse-Peterson winner, and then winner of that fight faces Khan.

That sounds like a four fighter tournament to be with Khan being at the end with two nothing fights against Carlos Molina and Julio Diaz to get him to that position. In other words, Khan only has to fight one dangerous fight instead of two when he eventually does face the winner from the four fighter tourney.

It’s pretty smart of Schaefer to come up with that one, eh? He reduces the risk of Khan getting stretched out twice, and narrows it down to just one risky fight. Presumably, if Khan wins that one fight he can crow about how he’s cleaned out the 140 lb. division and then immediately move up to 147 to start calling out Mayweather for a mega fight.

I don’t know why Schaefer doesn’t want Khan to fight the Garcia vs. Judah winner and then after that the Matthysse vs. Peterson winner. I like that idea much, much better. Of course, it’s twice the risk for Khan’s fragile chin, so I guess I’ve answered by own question.

Schaefer can keep Khan sitting on the sidelines while the top four 140 lb. fighters blast away at each other in a set of bouts, and then Khan gets to fight the eventual winner like he’s the top seed fighter rather than a guy that has lost two out of his last three fights and is about to face another 2nd tier fighter.

If I’m Matthyse, Peterson, Judah or Garcia, I’m not liking the idea that Khan gets to sit on the sidelines while I’m the one taking all the risks. I’d be asking for Khan straightaway instead of having to fight another guy to get to him. Why is Khan the one that is at the end of the line when he’s the guy that’s lost two out of his last three fights? That’s just wrong.

Khan faces 2nd tier former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) next month in an easy tune-up fight on April 27th at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. I guess if Khan wins that fight, Schaefer will have another easy fight for Khan to keep him busy while he waits for the smoke to clear from the four fighter tournament to get to him.



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