By William Mackay: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) is expressing interest in facing lightweight contender Kevin Mitchell (31-0, 23 KO’s), according to the BBC Sport. It’s unclear whether the 23-year-old Khan is planning on fighting Mitchell next or at some point in the future. Boxing fans were hoping that Khan would step it up after facing the 29-year-old Paulie Malignaggi on May 15th and start facing more dangerous opponents like Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander.
However, if Khan takes on the smallish Mitchell, it would appear to be a backwards step for Khan, as Mitchell is a lightweight and not a light welterweight. Khan, talking about the prospect of fighting Mitchell, says “I’d fancy it, but I don’t think they would. Mitchell is Frank Warren’s golden boy and I think they want to keep it that way. Frank wouldn’t want one of his fighters to get beat by a guy from a different camp. If it did happen, definitely I’d beat him, no doubt about it. He’s a good fighter, but it would be just a case of hit and move.”
There’s little doubt that Khan would beat Mitchell. Kevin isn’t a huge puncher and Khan would have a huge advantage in speed and power in this fight. What is kind of sad is that Khan is talking about hitting and moving against Mitchell. This should be a fighter that Khan could beat just standing in front of him all night long. If Khan is going to run from Mitchell, what will happen when Khan is forced to fight the best light welterweights in the division?
It’s hard to see him beating any of them if he’s going to running all night long. That’s obviously the way that Khan will be fighting from now on, but it takes more than just a hit run style to beat the good fighters in the light welterweight division. Khan will have to be able to mix it up, take their shots and prove that he can stand up to them if he wants to beat them.
Mitchell says “I’d want it, but Amir wouldn’t. He’s been found out. Amir Khan knows the scores. He’s a good boy and a nice boxer, but I think everyone knows now in the boxing world what he’s about. He took Paulie Malignaggi instead of taking on his number one mandatory [referring to Marcos Maidana], so I think the Americans know the score as well. It’s been proven, anyone who can half punch, Khan’s vulnerable against and Maidana can proper punch, which is why they are keeping away from him. He’s got an easier opponent than me [Malignaggi], definitely – a non puncher, someone who doesn’t throw many, an old boy and someone who Ricky Hatton beat two years ago. I’m taking on a ferocious, come forward puncher who’s angry as they come.”
Mitchell has a point. Khan had the chance to fight Maidana, but instead chose the feather-fisted Malignaggi to fight instead, justifying his decision by saying that he chose Malignaggi to fight because he’s better known than Maidana in the United States by boxing fans. That may be true, but Maidana has quickly become arguably the most popular fighter in the light welterweight division among hardcore boxing fans. Khan won’t likely take Maidana’s place even if he looks impressive in beating the 29-year-old light-punching Malignaggi.
One problem is that Malignaggi has been beaten in two out of his last four fights and some of his biggest wins of his career were very questionable. Khan was knocked out in the 1st round by Breidis Prescott in 2008, but failed to try and avenge the defeat. Instead it was Mitchell who took on Prescott and beat him last year by a 12 round decision.
For a fight between Khan and Mitchell to take place, Mitchell will have to beat the hard hitting Michael Katsidis, whom he faces on May 15th in England. That won’t be easy, because Katsidis is a better puncher than Mitchell and has more experience against top level opposition. However, with the fight taking place in England, there’s a good chance that Mitchell will get the nod if the fight ends up going to the cards.
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