Khan says he could face Lamont Peterson next – News

By Boxing News - 12/16/2010 - Comments

Image: Khan says he could face Lamont Peterson next – NewsBy William Mackay: Instead of facing the dangerous Breidis Prescott or Marcos Maidana in badly needed rematches, World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) says that he could be facing light welterweight contender Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KO’s) next in April 2011 in the UK. Frankly, that seems to be another one of Khan’s cherry picking fights because Peterson looked awful in his last fight against Victor Ortiz.

Peterson was knocked down twice in the 3rd and bleeding from both his right eye and right nostril. He looked ready to go, but Ortiz backed off and started boxing him instead of finishing him off. For the remainder of the bout, Ortiz danced around and only sparingly attacked.

It was a strange fight plan for Ortiz because he had Peterson beat an all he had to do was press hard and he would have easily finished Peterson off, but Ortiz looked timid and confused and end up giving up enough rounds for the fight to end in a 10 round draw.

I still had Ortiz winning the fight because Peterson’s work rate was poor. He’s the opposite of Maidana in terms of attacking his opponents. I can see why Khan would want to fight him because Peterson doesn’t throw enough punches.

In an interview at Sky Sports Ringside Khan said “I think Golden Boy [Khan’s promoters] are looking at Lamont Peterson. I think I have the style to knock him out. I think Lamont Peterson will be an ideal fight. I think in 2012, I could be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the pound-for-pound title.”

Peterson was already totally dominated by Timothy Bradley, losing every round of a 12 round bout in December 2009. I don’t know what Khan gains by taking on Bradley’s leftovers other than proving that he could beat someone that Ortiz couldn’t. I really don’t know what to think of Ortiz. I think the guy needs to go back to drawing board and go back to his old slugging style that he used in the Maidana fight.

Ortiz isn’t a good boxer and he wastes time and energy by focusing on trying to box guys that he could easily bang out if he attacks in one big blitz like he did in the Maidana fight. He could have stopped Peterson in the first three rounds if he had gone all out. I don’t know if Khan can, though, because he’s not much of a puncher and has a weak chin.

Peterson hits hard enough to stop Khan in his tracks if he tries to jump on him. I think this is a bad fight for Khan. He’d be better off fighting Maidana or Prescott again instead of taking on Peterson and possibly getting beaten or ending up looking bad. If you don’t punch with Peterson, he’s got the skills to make you struggle and look bad the way Ortiz did. This is why Khan would have to really go after Peterson if he fights him to try and get him out. I don’t think Khan’s chin is up to the task.

Khan looks silly now still talking about fighting Mayweather in a pound-for-pound fight after going life and death with Maidana. That is beyond silly. Khan didn’t even prove that he’s better than Maidana, and here he is talking about Mayweather in a p-4-p fight. That’s so sad.

Khan runs from Maidana the entire night, gets badly hurt in the 10th, and then has to run, clinch and stagger his way for the remaining rounds of the fight. Khan looked nothing like a future pound for pound opponent and more like just one of the typical light welterweight contender fodder type opponents. Khan is really kidding himself if he thinks he belongs in the same ring with Mayweather.



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