By Tom Drury: I am writing this article following up rumors that Amir Khan (UK) is a possible opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr’s next outing in May of 2014. You all know by now I am Mayweather’s biggest admirer and believe he is the greatest boxer of all time.
Floyd’s professional resume is second to none made up with wins over undefeated fighters, KO artists, (1) ranked challengers, mandatory challengers and multiple world champions and he still sits on the throne undefeated and boxing’s pound for pound best.
I have been lucky enough to see Mayweather Jr. fight on two occasions at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas and I happily paid for every pay-per-view card he was headlining. This is a fight – if it is confirmed – I will be hesitant about parting with my money.
This fight does not even make great business sense for Mayweather Promotions. Amir Khan has a weak fan base. British fans are very patriotic as was seen when Ricky Hatton took to Las Vegas to face off against the great Mayweather in 2007. Mayweather himself was shocked at the hardcore following the “Hitman” had.
Khan left Britain’s shores for America after his devastating KO loss to unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott to train under Freddie Roach. That move alone cost Khan many fans. Khan neither has captured the Americans imagination rightly so. If Mayweather by some miracle was to fight Khan in the UK, Mayweather would be the home fighter. His fan-base in the UK is huge so again that would be a bad move for Khan.
Now down to the fighter Khan and why I am so against this fight taking place. I see Khan as a tomato can. He is a B class fighter with very little skills, he has been crushed by unknown Breidis Prescott, who has since lost to the likes of Kevin Mitchell and Paul McCloskey. Khan has been KO’d by Danny Garcia, hit the canvass and had serious trouble with an over the hill Julio Diaz; not to mention been saved by Joe Cortez against Marcos Maidana and outgunned by Lamont Peterson. It is crazy that a fighter of Khan’s standard can even be mentioned as a Mayweather opponent.
Khan was supposed to be fighting America’s Devon Alexander this December. It seems now Khan won’t take that fight in hope of a Mayweather showdown in May of next year. This is why boxing needs a shake-up. I don’t blame Mayweather one bit. I blame the boxing big wigs, under no circumstance should Khan be allowed a shot at boxing’s pound for pound man and enjoy the spoils of a huge payday off the back of quite frankly a dismal professional career.
Let’s put this into perspective based on Khan’s opponents and more to the point the opponents he has failed to fight operating around the light-welterweight, welterweight divisions.
Lucas Matthysse: Matthyse would put Khan to sleep.
Danny Garcia: Knocked out Khan.
Adrien Broner: would put Khan to sleep.
Timothy Bradley: would put Khan to sleep.
Saul Alvarez: too big but would put Khan in a coma.
Manny Pacquiao: would put Khan in a coma.
Mike Alvarado: would put Khan to sleep.
Brandon Rios: would put Khan to sleep.
Devon Alexander: I believe would get the stoppage over Khan.
Juan Manuel Marquez: would put Khan to sleep.
Robert Guerrero: I believe would get the stoppage.
Andre Berto: would get the stoppage.
Victor Ortiz: would put Khan to sleep.
Kell Brook: good fight.
Maidana: Khan on points.
Judah: Khan TKO.
Julio Diaz: Khan on points.
Out of the 17 fighters named above Khan has failed to enter the ring against 12 mainstream legitimate light-welter/welterweight fighters. Yes, 12. Khan has not won one credible fight against a genuine active world class or elite fighter and he is supposedly in the running for a Mayweather fight. That is a travesty. Mayweather would dissect Khan from the first round and stop him within 8. He may even get the outright KO within that time. The viewing will be unbearable. Not one hardcore boxing enthusiast in my opinion could even class Khan as a threat or competitive opponent based on speed, and for those who talk speed, Mayweather is faster (fact) he just doesn’t throw those weak flurries Khan does.
Never have I got as emotionally charged about a fighter as I do Khan. I respect all men that enter the ring but I see Khan as a hype job and quite frankly stealing a living out of the boxing world.
Danny Garcia should be Floyd Mayweather’s next opponent without question. That guy deserves it. I don’t believe he could beat Mayweather. I don’t any fighter can but I believe some fighters have deserved there shot and the huge payday a Mayweather fight provides. Garcia has been underdog and wrote off in every fight he’s had. He is a true champion and deserves that fight. Timothy Bradley is another fighter that deserves a Mayweather showdown. Juan Manuel Marquez still fighting hard at 40 years of age and even though he was totally dominated by Mayweather in the past, that fight would still capture the publics’ imagination after Marquez’s crushing KO win over Pacquiao. Pacquiao – if he beats Brandon Rios on November 23rd in convincing fashion – should be considered and vice-versa if Rios pulls off the upset. Khan needs to earn his stripes and show the boxing world he can fight. Unfortunately, we all know he cannot. Let’s hope this fight does not happen. It would be bad for boxing, and I’m sure it would leave a bitter taste in the deserving fighters’ mouths.
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