Amir Khan could seal his legacy with the greats!

By Boxing News - 02/04/2016 - Comments

khan55By @C1TheGoodFella: The mega-fight between Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) on May 7th, in Las Vegas on Cinco De Mayo, could turn out to be a night sealed in the boxing archives with the greats.

The classics like Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake Lamotta and then we have Khan vs. Canelo. The names alone create a buzz about them. Some May suggest we are the ones bluffed to be brainwashed by the boxing politics of life and follow the ones fabricated to be the elite?

Either way, Canelo Alvarez at 25-years-old is a two-time world champion, and has accomplished what most boxers could only dream of. Khan 29, is reasonably young and yet a two-time world champion and an Olympic Silver medallist at just 17 years.

Khan has proven he is about the challenge and yet again, he has stepped up to the plate, and for that I applaud him. Boxing requires these quality match ups. A part of me would like to see Khan pull off a huge upset and shake up the boxing world, throwing a spanner in the works as it may intrigue Mr. Money Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement, for the suggested showdown but very surprisingly it would be for the 155lb title.

Khan, who will be fighting for Canelo’s WBC middleweight title, would seal his name in the legacy books if he wins. Khan is a Huge underdog in this fight, and he has not fought for a title in half a decade. Khan never fought at 155lb and yet he is facing a top pound for pound fighter in Alvarez.

Canelo is accurate, consistent, adopts a quality defence, possess great power and most of all he is vastly experienced. He should have the power advantage going into the fight and will more than likely hydrate into the high 170’lbs as done so in the past. Khan has the reach and speed advantage going into this fight and will need to be 100% on his game if he is to pull off the upset. Canelo rarely made mistakes in his previous fights, but he does appear to have a flawed work rate, which Khan could capitalize on.

A peekaboo style with speed, elusiveness and ring general ship is the style of boxing is what I feel Khan will adapt to defeat Canelo and he will more than likely use the reach advantage using his strengths (speed and straight arm combination punching) to develop a lead going into the second half of the fight and he may even cut Canelo causing tissue damage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYXtlD9F1tQ

Canelo has great technique throwing boxing combinations and switching from head to body, but to do this he has to plant his feet on the ground and feel confident that he will land his punches. Miguel Cotto was able to make Alvarez abstain from throwing many punches using good foot and lateral movement in their fight last November.

Khan may have the solution to the power problem Canelo brings. Since moving to trainer Virgil Hunter, Khan’s movement has vastly increased and got way better in my opinion. I think Virgil will develop a system of shifting Canelo off balance, which in turn would halt him from throwing punches as he will always have to move to get into punching distance, this will give Amir Khan the advantage. Khan’s trademark is throwing fast punches to gain a points edge and in all of his fights and he can feel confident knowing he carries the speed advantage and quicker arsenal.

If Khan could build up a points lead going into the second half of the fight, it will be a very interesting fight and anything would be possible at that point.

Canelo will be the heavier fighter going into his May 7 fight against Khan. Will this give Canelo the advantage in the second half of the fight or will he be the more fatigued fighter going into the final part of the fight? Will it even get that far, due to the weight advantage?

These are all possibilities going into the fight and that is why this fight is very exciting. Khan has been knocked out in ALL his previous defeats, will he be carried out on a stretcher putting a holt to the Kell Brook and Danny Garcia Fights in future and send Khan into retirement allowing him to cash out?

Who knows, but…

Khan has replaced Manny Pacquiao for character, as the guy who fights the unexpected fights!? Like when Pacquiao fought Oscar De La Hoya, then fought Pacquiao shocked us again against Antonio Margarito. People thought Pacquiao would get slaughtered in both those fights and yet it turned out to be the opposite way around. Pacquiao utilized his speed in both those fights and came out victorious. So we see ladies and gentleman, it can be done.

Could we see history repeated, another legendary Mexican beaten in an upset against a smaller man?

Maybe so…. All I say is roll on Cinco De Mayo and may the best man win.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @C1TheGoodFella



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