By Jonathan Watkins: Like him or loath him, Amir Khan is a big presence in world boxing right now, and all fighters around the light welterweight division should consider him a tempting match up, mainly because he’s young, exciting but evidently beatable.
Whether it’s his outspoken personality, the hype surrounding him or his inconsistent performances in the ring, everyone has an opinion on the British boxer making him renowned throughout the world and a well-watched fighter.
His ability to draw fans and opinions alike has led to both aspiring and established boxers relishing the opportunity to face him, especially considering the flaws in some of his performances.
Recent encounters with Lamont Peterson and Marcos Maidana were among the fights of their respective years, broadcasting a mix of Khan’s abilities and weaknesses. Both of these were real toe-to-toe contests, exciting from the first bell till the final outcome, making him a fighter than fans want to see.
Khan’s impressive hand speed is one of his attributes that can’t be called into question, while potentially lacking sheer power in punches; his landed shots are impressive in every bout. What should be tempting others however is his defensive abilities and seemingly weak chin.
While it is firmly in the past now, everyone will continue to remember Khan’s defeat within a minute of facing Breidis Prescott where a series of strong left hooks floored the Olympic Silver medalist. Along with his first defeat, despite making it to the end of the Maidana fight, Khan was picked apart during the later rounds emphasizing his weaknesses but tempting future opponents, along with his recent but controversial defeat to Peterson.
Depending on the outcome of the forthcoming rematch, the likes of Victor Ortiz, Kell Brook and Lee McAllister have declared their interest in the Bolton-born fighter, while Timothy Bradley is still looking like an interesting matchup for the future. While Floyd Mayweather remains far superior to Khan and could easily resist an encounter, there are few others out there that wouldn’t benefit from fighting him. Khan is undeniably talented, entertaining, but ultimately beatable.
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