By Craig Hilton: If Amir Khan could choose a style of opponent to face, it would be a counter-puncher that likes to fight on the back-foot. Some of his most accomplished victories have come against this type of fighter. So as negotiations for a fight between Devon Alexander and Khan have stalled, an Amir Khan versus Floyd Mayweather fight now appears on the horizon.
At thirty-six, Mayweather is still the best counter-puncher in world boxing but now appears to be seeking the challenge of fighting an opponent with speed and stamina. For Khan, this is his dream fight, an opportunity for a redemptive performance following his defeats to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia. For Mayweather, it’s an opportunity to sharpen his tools in preparation for a super-fight with Manny Pacquiao.
The fight between Mayweather and Khan has been touted for years. Floyd Mayweather Senior accused Khan of fighting ‘like a girl’ in his split decision defeat to Lamont Peterson in Washington D.C on 12/10/2011. More recently, Mayweather Senior has reiterated his desire for Floyd to put the final nail in the coffin on Amir Khan’s career. It’s as if Mayweather Senior has had a fight between the pair in his plans for years. Floyd’s uncle, Roger Mayweather, admitted that Amir and his nephew had sparred together a few years ago. Following Amir’s recent defeats, Roger has commented that Khan has lacked mental toughness in recent bouts. However, Khan found the sparring to be an encouraging experience and has long sought the opportunity to fight Floyd.
It may be different without the headgear, though, as Khan was knocked out in the fourth round of the biggest fight in his career to date on 14/07/2012. Amir was controlling the fight with his speed until he exposed himself to Garcia’s trademark shot: a damaging left hook to the head. He was timed by the shot whilst in the midst of a fast combination that included a right uppercut.
The right uppercut was thrown in the centre of the ring as Khan fully exposed his right side to Garcia’s powerful left hook. Khan had lost his concentration, abandoning a game plan to hit and move. This colossal counter-shot has led many to believe that if Mayweather and Khan were ever to fight, Amir would be outclassed, timed and knocked out once again.
Following the defeat to Garcia, it was felt that Khan should work on his defense with a new trainer; so Andre Ward’s trainer, Virgil Hunter, was hired to make improvements to Khan’s style. Hunter has to make mental focus and defense a priority in Khan’s training. Should Khan get timed and knocked out again, many commentators will question Hunter’s role and the progress in Amir’s development.
Khan looked weak, vulnerable and clueless when fighting Peterson. He was bullied on the inside and simply not strong enough. Peterson was equal in height to Khan – five foot nine inches – and therefore Khan should have not have been giving ground at close quarters. Amir didn’t make use of his long arms to block Peterson’s stamina-draining body shots. Peterson later tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Amir looked short of the total skill set and fight experience required for world-level boxing. He fought uneconomically and erratically, running out of ideas as Peterson rallied in the second half of the bout. It’s obvious that Khan needs to ‘stick and move’ on the outside but he needs to keep opponents at bay with a more relaxed, varied and evasive style. The Peterson fight showed that Amir needs to be stronger mentally and physically when fighting toe-to-toe on the inside.
Khan has been rocked and knocked out at his current weight-class, Super Lightweight. Sometimes Khan is stunned in the later rounds of bouts when his concentration and endurance begin to crumble. Whilst Hunter cannot change Khan’s natural ability to take a punch, he can create a training programme designed to strengthen his physical and mental endurance.
The Mayweather fight is likely to take place at one-hundred and forty-seven pounds. The extra weight should provide Hunter with the opportunity to enhance Khan’s ability to take a shot by adding strength to his legs, torso and neck. The ability to take a welterweight shot will be crucial for Amir as he really needs to take the fight into the later rounds and match his stamina against what could be a thirty-seven year-old Floyd Mayweather.
Unlike Manny Pacquiao, age is on Khan’s side but his preparations must ensure that he has the strength, stamina and endurance to attack Floyd with a fast and voluminous array of shots. Amir has the speed and stamina missing from the failed charges of Mayweather’s recent opponents. If Amir Khan can survive the early exchanges, the fight could make a very interesting blend of styles and act as a precursor to Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao.
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