Khan’s losses not Roach’s fault

By Boxing News - 09/03/2012 - Comments

Image: Khan's losses not Roach's faultBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Rumors continue to circulate that former WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-3, 18 KO’s) is in the hunt for a new trainer after losing two straight fights under five time trainer of the year Freddie Roach. Khan has been vacillating between taking responsibility for the losses and then seemingly throwing Roach under the bus in his words to the press.

Khan lost his WBA and IBF title belts in a highly controversial decision last December to the now disgraced Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s). When it was revealed that Peterson had taken the banned substance testosterone, the WBA stripped Lamont of his WBA belt. The IBF however failed to act and did not strip Peterson of his IBF belt.

Amir was matched with new WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia (24-0, 15 KO’s) in July after a rematch with Peterson was cancelled due to the drug scandal. Khan dominated the first two rounds against Garcia and the first half of the 3rd round. Amir was floored by a potent counter left hook in the 3rd round but managed to survive the remainder of the round until the bell sounded. Khan never fully recovered from the effects of the initial left hook that floored him and was dropped again early in round four and again near the end of the round before referee Ken Bayless called a halt to the contest.

The harsh reality is that Khan had the skills needed to defeat both Peterson and Garcia and was heavily favored to win both fights. Amir however failed to heed the advice of Roach and stubbornly chose to follow his own game plan. Roach had counseled Khan not to fight off the ropes against Peterson who was known to be a ferocious body puncher. The result was that by the time Amir began to follow Roach’s advice in the later rounds he no longer had any steam left in his punches. And although the fight was close it did not have to be.

In the Garcia fight Khan decided to go macho and trade with Danny, again ignoring Roach’s advice to use his jab and superior speed to box and stay away from his opponent. Khan’s refusal to follow his trainer’s advice proved to be catastrophic in the Garcia fight. In fact his once promising career now hangs in the balance.

Instead of acknowledging that his mistakes were what cost him both the Peterson and Garcia fights, Khan admits that he is in search of a new trainer. The problem for Amir is that while mouthing the words that he accepted the responsibility for his losses, his actions belie his words.

Make no mistake about it Khan lost his fights to Peterson and Garcia not because he did not have access to Roach but because he did not follow his advice. In boxing, perhaps more than in any other endeavor, the old axiom that you can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge is particularly true. No trainer can succeed if the boxer he trains does not follow his advice. It appears that Amir Khan still does not get it.



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