Broner: Amir Khan will become World champion again

By Boxing News - 12/23/2012 - Comments

broner2By Scott Gilfoid: WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner believes that his friend former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) can rise up again and snatch one or more of the world titles from one of the champions in 2013. Broner thinks Khan has speed, heart and loads of talent that will enable him to do that in 2013.

Broner said to Sky Ringside “I’m a big fan of Amir Khan, and I believe he can step up and become a world champion again. He’s very elusive, he has a big heart, and he’s a fighter. I would love to [fight in the UK one of these days].”

It sounds nice except that there’s one big problem that may step in the way of Khan becoming a world champion again. Instead of going after the easier mark IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson or waiting out the WBO champion Juan Manuel Marquez until he retires and/or vacates his title, Khan wants to try and win back his WBA title from WBA/WBC 140 pound champion Danny Garcia.

I don’t think that’s possible for Khan to do that. Khan won’t be able to survive 12 rounds of getting hit in the head or neck by Garcia’s left hooks. That’s the bad part, and Khan is in the position where he kind of has to fight Garcia because he’s been talking about wanting to fight him so much. If he doesn’t fight him now, boxing fans will think he’s ducking him.

Khan can possibly win a world title if he waits around for Marquez to lose or give up his title. That might take a while, and I don’t think Khan wants to wait for that to happen. The best option for Khan is to fight a rematch with IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson. Khan will obviously have a lot of problems against Peterson, because nothings really changed in Khan’s game at all except he’s a little more passive and lesser fighter than he was when he was fighting with aggression.

Khan can’t run from Peterson, because he’s too good at closing the distance to cut off the ring to force Khan to fight. We saw Peterson literally jogging after Khan for the last 8 rounds of the fight and giving him a beating each time Khan would be forced to stop. Out of a basic need to survive, Khan resorted to shoving, pulling down on Peterson’s head and putting him in head locks.

I don’t think Khan will attempt to use those fouling tactics as much in a rematch with Peterson because the referee will be wise to them and won’t let him do it. Without Khan using those fouling tactics I think he’ll lose to Peterson. Khan has a chance of winning, but not a good one if he can’t shove and pull his head down 24/7 like he did last time.

Broner obviously likes Khan, but I really don’t see Khan winning a world title in 2013 unless it’s one of those interim straps that mean zero.

Khan may end up fighting Josesito Lopez next April in his first fight of 2013. Golden Boy Promotions also have Victor Ortiz and Lucas Matthysse as possible opponents for him, but I think they’ll be weeded out of the Khan sweepstake because of how dangerous they are.



Comments are closed.