Amir Khan vs Julio Diaz Preview: Khan’s rebuilding continues with return to the UK

1346By Peter Wells: No one ever said filling ones potential would be easy, and when one hits a roadblock or two it takes a person of un-teachable determination and will power to fulfil that promise which has been shifted upon ones shoulders. So when Amir Khan suffered defeat number three it would take someone with that incredible will power to bounce back and reach the heights that he was expected to reach.

Yet another change in trainer and Khan is set to go again. So here we go. Take four! Now with Virgil Hunter in Khan’s corner, the Bolton born Olympic Silver medallist will take to the ring for the second time since Danny Garcia took Khan out in 4 explosive rounds. First up was the undersized and over matched Carlos Molina (not the Carlos Molina competing at 154lbs), whom was outclassed for 10 rounds before his corner decided enough was enough.

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Khan-Diaz: Judgment day for Amir this Saturday

khan53By Matty Buckland: What next for Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) if he fails to deliver this upcoming Saturday night against Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) in Sheffield, UK? Khan has had a career full of highs and lows and, at the young age of 26, Khan is already trying to rebuild his career after the devastating knockout defeat to Danny Garcia and his point’s loss to Lamont Peterson.

Khans’ career started with a stellar amateur background culminating in an Olympic silver medal. His professional career started off very well before a shock defeat to the relatively unknown Breidis Prescott put a few doubts in a lot of people’s minds.

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Khan’s trainer: Julio Diaz is a dangerous rival

diaz33By Scott Gilfoid: Virgil Hunter, the trainer for former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan, sees his opponent Julio Diaz as a serious threat to Khan in their fight this Saturday night in Sheffield, UK. While the vast majority of the boxing world sees Diaz as just another past his best opponent that was hand-picked by Khan’s promoters for to look good against, Hunter sees Diaz as still being a high quality fighter of the first order.

Hunter said to the telegraph.co.uk “Julio Diaz is not just an opponent. He’s a serious two-time world champion, a dangerous rival, and should be respected as such. He’s a formidable foe…this is not just a comeback fight; this is a tough championship fight.”

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Wilder vs. Harrison could steal the show on Khan-Diaz card this Saturday

wilder890By Scott Gilfoid: While the heavyweight clash between the two giants Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) and Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) is been relegated to that of an undercard position on this Saturday’s Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz fight card in Sheffield, I have a strong feeling that this fight could end up stealing the show for the fans that actually get to see it.

The fight card will be televised by BoxNation in the UK, but unfortunately in the United States fans will only see the Khan-Diaz fight with just highlights of the Wilder-Harrison fight shown. Instead of that fight being televised in it’s entirety, U.S boxing fans will be shown Zab Judah vs. Danny Garcia and Peter Quillin vs. Fernando Guerrero.

I don’t mind seeing the Judah-Garcia fight, but Quillin-Guerrero is mismatch and hardly an interesting one as far as I’m concerned. I’d much rather see Wilder-Harrison than that fight because it involves former Olympic stars going at it.

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Khan vs. Diaz this Saturday, April 27th, in Sheffield, UK

khan1By Scott Gilfoid: Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) will be fighting this Saturday night against Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) in what should be Khan’s last tune-up fight before he’s thrown back in with the sharks of the light welterweight division.

If Khan gets past the 33-year-old Diaz then he will have had two easy fights to build up his confidence to get him ready to start fighting the quality fighters in the 140 lb. division. If Khan can’t cut the mustard again then Golden Boy Promotions is going to have to seriously consider cutting him loose unless they’re okay with him being a gate keeper/Euro level fighter.

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Khan vs. Diaz: Don’t be surprised if Amir gets knocked out again

khan45By Scott Gilfoid: Golden Boy Promotions has done their homework in digging up 33-year-old Julio Diaz to face Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) this month on April 27th the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, UK. Golden Boy doesn’t want Khan to be knocked out again, so they’re in the rebuilding stage with him putting him in with guys with little power or who are too old to beat him like Diaz.

However, even in this case I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Khan gets knocked out because Diaz does have a little bit of power going for him and he’s a lot more skilled than Khan’s last opponent that Golden Boy dug up for Khan in Carlos Molina.

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Khan: My fight against Julio Diaz could be one of my last in the UK

khan432 - CopyBy Scott Gilfoid: British boxing fans better hurry and snatch up tickets for the April 27th fight between former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) and former two-time IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) because Khan is saying this is one of the last times he’ll be fighting in the UK.

The Khan-Diaz fight will be taking place at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, and the fight involves a bout where Khan is fighting another 2nd tier fighter instead of an actual contender.

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Khan: If I get hurt by Diaz I’ll keep my technique

khan33By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) has taken heat for the way he sometimes doesn’t do the right thing when he’s been shook up by a big punch. Instead of grabbing his opponents to try and hold on until he recovers from the shot, Khan has tried to keep slugging.

Khan got away with this in his fight against Marcos Maidana in 2010, but it may have cost him the fight last July when he was stopped in the 4th round by Danny Garcia after being badly hurt in the previous round.

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Khan: I can’t afford to lose to Julio Diaz

khan222By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s) is in a position where he can’t afford to get beaten again and he’s well aware of that. Khan has lost two out of his last three fights and if he gets beaten this month by Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) on April 27th then it’s pretty much over for Khan.

He might as well hang up the gloves and look for another line of work because another KO loss would send a message loud and clear that his chin just isn’t made for the upper levels of the game.

Khan, #2 WBA, #5 IBF, said to the dailymail.co.uk “I can’t afford to lose again – I’d be destroyed. I needed someone like Virgil to tell me straight how it is.”

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Nate Campbell vs. Terry Flannigan on Khan-Diaz undercard on April 27th in Sheffield

campbell46344By Eric Thomas: Former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Nate Campbell (36-10-1, 26 KO’s) will be dropping back down to lightweight to face unbeaten prospect Terry Flannigan (19-0, 5 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout on the undercard of the Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz card on April 27th at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, UK.

Campbell, 41, was soundly beaten in his last fight against unbeaten welterweight contender Kevin Bizier in an 8th round stoppage last February. It was a big mistake for Campbell to agree to move up from light welterweight to take on the bigger, stronger and younger Bizier in the 147 pound division.

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