By Angel Olguin: This past week former two time world champion, Amir Khan (30-3), has been getting a lot of criticism in the boxing community. From rumors of turning down lucrative fights to social media arguments with fellow IBF World Champion Kell Brook, Khan’s name been ringing throughout the social media and boxing worlds.
Khan is one of boxing’s most enigmatic figures. With natural talents of blazing hand speed, great ring generalship and an enormous heart, Khan came to capture the minds of many fans early across the globe.
Just as he captured fans, with his latest antics and outspoken persona he definitely come to acquire his share of critics as well. Whether fan or critic, one would have to question how a man with such talents continues to cheat himself? From staying out the ring for extended periods of time to not aiming for bigger names not named Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr, we would all have to agree Khan made his share of questionable decisions and remarks.
Yesterday Khan had a one on one interview with theSweetScience.com and continued to add to these remarks, but remarks that come to his “quick defense” and an attempt to add clarity to the ongoing situations surrounding this controversial fighter.
When asked about a possible fight with Broner Khan stated they shared the same promoter in Al Haymon, and from the talks of it Broner was not seriously interested in the fight, definitely not at the full 147. “I’m getting messages he really doesn’t want to fight me. He is talking big on social media, but when it comes down to the fight on May 30th or even May23rd we hear nothing.” With Adrien Broner recently moving down to the super lightweight division it would seem there has to be some merit to this statement. Broner’s only win at Welterweight came against Paulie Malignaggi in a close contested split decision bout, the same Malignaggi Khan beat via 11th round TKO.
When asked about Miguel Cotto and Kell Brook Khan clarified his adherence to Holy Ramadan. “Here’s one thing I want the public to understand, I am the one challenging everyone. It’s me calling out these big names. The fight with Miguel Cotto would be great for me, but I heard he is working on a deal to fight Bundrage. I think he is set to fight in June, and I want to fight at the end of May. I can’t do June because of Ramadan. Obviously I take Ramadan very seriously.”
He went on to state that Brook is looking at a mid-June or end of June fight while he’s set for May in preparation of Ramadan. When asked about the Algieri fight Khan stated nothing is 100 % official, but also questions the criticism he’s receiving if he does face Algieri this May. “Lets be real. I have faced everyone that they have asked me to fight, from mandatory to top guys. I didn’t have to take these fights with the big names but I did. That’s the type of fighter I am. Algieri is a tough fighter, no fight is easy. Like I said, Algieri is a better fighter than Jojo Dan. If it’s okay for Kell Brook to fight Jojo Dan, why can’t I fight Algieri?”
While Khan does make a good point with the comparison of Algeiri to Jojo Dan, he’s not fooling anyone but himself. Algieri has no knockout power and lacks the skill set to challenge Khan in a full scale welterweight boxing match. While many critics give Khan’s “glass chin” less credit than it deserves, we all know this is his primary weakness, if not his only weakness. What will beating Algieri in a lopsided 12 round victory prove? I would prefer him to fight Marquez , Thurman or even Diego Chaves. He also stated that Bradley was the one who turned down a possible fight of them in the past, not him. “ If the Bradley fight was offered to me I would take that fight in a heartbeat. Everyone knows I have offered to fight Bradley a long time ago. Bradley said he doesn’t want to fight. So why would Eddie Hearn go out there and say I refused the fight against Bradley?”
As for Kell Brook, I have to agree to a certain degree of Khan’s perception as him being unproven. “Sometimes the general public doesn’t really understand the boxing business. We work in a very tough profession. It is a business. Eddie and Kell are fooling the fans and the media. Look at my last 10 opponents and look at Kell’s. All I want is Kell to prove himself against A-list fighters as I have done” Khan stated Brook can’t fight me coming off a win by a guy named Jojo Dan!” If you look at Brooks recent resume it’s hard to argue Khan’s point, it seems valid.
Khan’s last 11 opponents combined for only 25 losses and included 7 former or current world champions (Alexander, Collazo, Garcia, Peterson, Judah, Maidana, Malignaggi), with Khan losing two of those fights. Despite being deducted 2 points against Lamont Peterson for pushing, he lost a close split decision bout which Peterson later tested positive for PED’s. Although up on all 3 judges scorecards, he was also knocked out by Danny Garcia in the very next fight.
Brook’s last 11 opponents combine for 52 losses, and include only one world titlist (Sean Porter), which he won via majority decision. Another notable fight on Brook’s resume came against Carson Jones, the very first American he decided to challenge. The fight took place in the U.K with Jones stepping into the ring with a record of (34-8-2). Carson Jones managed to break Kell’s nose in the 8th round and almost knocked him out in the 12th. No, we’re not talking about a Zab Judah, Devon Alexander, or a Marcos Maidana, top tough world fighters, but a low ranked-eight loss Carson Jones who many boxing fans felt deserved the win. If you have not seen the fight I advise you to go on YouTube and watch it, it turned out to be a great fight. By the 12th round Carson Jones had Brook battered, bloodied, and holding on for dear life. Many boxing fans believe Brook lost that fight and was gifted the home turf decision, a “win” he would come back and later avenge.
As long as Khan continues to short himself and disuse his talents he would continue to be one of boxing’s most enigmatic figures. Who would you, as the reader and fight fan, have Khan fight next and why? What are your thoughts on Kell Brook and the resurrecting career of Adrien Broner? Be sure to tune in every Monday at Boxingnews24.com for a new article and feel free to e-mail me at boxingmessiah@gmail.com with any comments, questions, or debates. Thanks for reading.
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