Khan says Peterson is pricing himself out, Paul McCloskey a possibility

By Boxing News - 01/13/2011 - Comments

By Scott Gilfoid: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) says that #6 WBA ranked contender Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KO’s) wants too much money and that could get in the way of Khan fighting him next in April. Khan wants a decent opponent to fight in front of him home fans in the UK in April, but they don’t want someone that’s good enough to really test Khan’s chin and possibly take him out.

Khan went life and death with Marcos Maidana in his last fight in December, and barely escaped with a 12 round decision win after getting hurt in the 10th round. Khan took a shelling from Maidana in the last three rounds while holding onto him constantly by one arm or around the neck without losing points. The referee broke Khan and Maidana while was getting hammered, and that’s kind of an usual thing to have happen. Normally, referees only break up two fighters when there’s no action, not when one fighters is getting royally hammered by another.

In is twitter page, Khan said “I have respect for Peterson. He is a top fighter but why do all these guys overprice themselves when they fight me. His demands are way too high.”

You could also read this as Khan possibly being worried about Peterson, and maybe not wanting to take the kind of risk that would involved in facing a guy like him. Peterson was good enough to back of Victor Ortiz in his last fight. This wouldn’t be a sure thing for Khan like in his fights against feather fisted guys like Paulie Malignaggi and Dmitri Salita. Peterson would have a chance to upset Khan and ruin his grand vision. I think I smell fear.

In article at the examiner.com, one of Khan’s promotional team members had this to say: “If Peterson doesn’t want it, Paul McCloskey would be a good option – an undefeated European champion.”

McCloskey would be a terrible option. He’s a slow, short 31-year-old fighter who happens to hold the EBU light welterweight title. McCloskey has no power to speak of, but I guess that’s why he’s been looked at now. I figured Khan wouldn’t fight Peterson. He’s not as weak as a lot of people think he is, and he’s a heck of a lot better than McCloskey. Looks like Khan is going to go cherry picking again to keep his momentum moving along.



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