Former WBA welterweight and IBF light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton told the Daily Star Sunday he has urged fellow Brit Amir "King" Khan to not rush into fighting WBC world welterweight titlist “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather.
Khan (26-2, 18 KOs) relinquished his IBF and WBA world light welterweight belts to Lamont Peterson due to a controversial split decision loss December 10 at the Convention Center in “Havoc’s” hometown of Washington, D.C.
Khan, a Pakistani-British boxer who at 17 became the youngest Englishman to win an Olympic medal when he captured a silver as a lightweight at the 2004 games in Greece, was sandbagged by referee Joe Cooper who deducted two points from the erstwhile titlist for pushing in the seventh and 12th rounds.
"I was shocked. There was no warning," Khan, 25, told ESPN.com regarding the curious subtractions. "It was like I was against him and the referee."
Roger "Pit" Perron is a respected boxing trainer from Brockton (Mass.) who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training.
Perron completely agrees that Khan was shafted.
“Amir Khan got mugged,” said Perron, 75, who helped work with Marvelous Marvin Hagler in the 1980s. “Without those two point deductions, Khan was an easy winner. There will be a rematch. But, not in D.C. and Kahn will destroy him.”
Khan, who had triumphed in six consecutive bouts, scored the only knockdown in the fight late in the first round.
Conversely, after a 16-month hiatus from the ring, Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) controversially knocked “Vicious” Victor Ortiz onto Queer Street to capture his crown in September.
"I think a Mayweather fight would be too soon for Amir,” said Hatton, 33, the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year. “He is just coming off a defeat and does he really want to fight the number one fighter right now or later this year?”
Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs), one of the most popular and recognized English boxers ever, suggested that Khan focus his efforts on avenging his defeat at the hands of Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KOs).
"I think Amir needs two or three fights to get himself re-established and get his confidence back. Then maybe he'll fight the winner of [Manny] Pacquiao and Mayweather next year,” said Hatton, whose most impressive triumph came when he captured the IBF light welterweight championship from International Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu by TKO in June 2005. "If Amir could put in a good performance against Peterson he will improve his position when he sits down at the negotiating table."
Peterson is an extremely competent pugilist who has not been overcome since he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Timothy Bradley in December 2009.
Nevertheless, Peterson is not even in the same sphere as Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs).
Mayweather, a ten-time titlist in five separate weight classes who was named The Ring “Fighter of the Year” in 1998 and 2007, is an utter defensive wizard and one of the most indomitable prizefighters ever.
At this juncture, Khan would be badly outclassed by the 34-year-old Mayweather.
“King Khan” would be wise to heed Hatton’s advice and “get himself re-established and get his confidence back.”
If Amir Khan doesn’t, and he prematurely clashes with “Pretty Boy,” he will leave the squared circle a loser for the third time in his professional career.
* I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my article. If you enjoyed this piece, please click the “subscribe” button at the top of this page and my articles will be sent directly to your email.
Much thanks again….Your readership means a lot to me!
~ Colin
http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-boston/james-buster-douglas-produced-the-greatest-knockout-ever
http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-boston/pretty-boy-floyd-mayweather-jailed-sin-city-friday
Comments