By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (28-3, 18 KO’s) had to go life and death tonight to defeat Julio Diaz (40-8-1, 29 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision. The final judges’ scores were 114-113, 115-113, 115-112. Khan was knocked down in the 4th round from a big left hook from Diaz. Khan was later staggered in rounds 8, 9, 10 and 11 by big shots from Diaz.
Khan looked like a washed up fighter tonight, no better than Diaz, who is way past his prime. I had Diaz winning a close decision by getting the better of Khan in the 3rd, 4th [the round Diaz knocked down Khan down with a left hook], 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th. Khan clearly won rounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 12. However, with the knockdown in the 4th, Diaz should have been given the decision. I couldn’t give Khan rounds where he was staggered, but it looks as if that’s what some of these judges did tonight.
Khan was badly hurt in the 11th round when he was staggered and out on his feet. He was ready to be finished off but with his holding on for the rest of the rest of the round, he was able to survive without getting knocked out. I thought the 11th should have been a 10-8 round because Khan was holding and not letting go. The referee failed to take a point away from Khan for holding in that round because he was just trying to survive [i.e., stall] and you’re supposed to have points taken away for that kind of thing.
Although Khan won the fight, it was one of those fights where you can’t really call it much of a victory because of Khan looked in the fight. I mean, he was dropped and staggered at least five times in the fight and this from a 2nd tier fighter. We’re not even talking about a 1st tier guy like Danny Garcia or Lamont Peterson. Khan’s promoters at Golden Boy Promotions specifically selected Diaz from the tier just so Khan could get a confidence booster, but instead of the fight being easy like it should have been, Khan ended up getting hurt multiple times and going life and death.
Khan isn’t ready to face Danny Garcia or Lucas Matthysse, and if Golden Boy puts him in one of those guys in December like they plan to, Khan will get knocked out. That’s a given. You can put the fight in the UK, and allow Khan to shove and pull down on Matthysse or Garcia’s head all night long without having points taken or warnings, like tonight, and he’ll still be knocked out. Khan’s chin just isn’t up to snuff to beat guys like that.
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