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(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Just moments ago Amir Khan blew Dmitriy Salita out of the water in 76 seconds, and looked like a completely different fighter than the one who got knocked out by Breidis Prescott last year.
Showing all the hallmarks of a fighter flourishing under the tuition of trainer of the moment Freddie Roach, Khan has now lifted himself among the best light welterweights in the world. In several publications he was already as high as number three behind his stable mate Manny Pacquiao and either Timothy Bradley or Ricky Hatton (depending on which rankings you look at).
The only problem with this is that having gotten a quick knockout against a slow starter in Salita, Khan didn't really get the test that he needs before he can start taking on the best in the world. What Khan needs more than a quick knockout over an over matched opponent is a real battle against someone with the durability and defensive skills to give him problems.
The one criticism of Khan since his loss is that he has faced less than stellar competition. Salita is a decent fighter, but clearly had no business being in the same ring as Amir tonight and even on paper isn't a big puncher who could have answered some of the questions about Khan's chin. The worst thing for Amir right now would be to jump up in competition all at once and get in over his head, because someone who has an answer for his speed and doesn't fade away from his punches will make him struggle. Just as bad as this though is to take fights that are too easy and will make Khan look a lot better than he might really be. Less than a minute of boxing isn't enough to tell anything much about Khan other than that he has power and obviously sticks to Freddie Roach's game plans well.
Next for Khan could be a fight against someone like Paulie Malignaggi or Juan Urango, not huge risks to his questionable chin, but with enough name recognition to get the fans talking. Khan has said he would like to fight Ricky Hatton in the future as well, but this is a lot less likely than the other contenders. The reason being that Khan's promoter, Frank Warren was Hatton's promoter at one time as well, and the two had a falling out that resulted in a drawn out legal battle.
He also mentioned in his after fight interview that he intends to hang onto his WBA title, so a few more defenses might be the first order of business for the man many are now looking at as the king in waiting. Poised as he is to eventually take over the reigns from his teammate Manny Pacquiao and win belts at multiple weights.
Comments
roach for trainer of the decade. he is the big winner here and put him in the best of all time trainer. just like his chief pupil, the pacman, roach confidence has grown thru the years. line up the boxers who wants to be champion for master roach.
still has a lot of rice to eat. try test him with class b fighters.. Yes he can punch.. but can he take a punch? Im sure hw cant even square off with David Diaz or someone like Ricky Hatton
Amir Khan is the promising fighter now! What could be good to his career is to fight Ricky Hatton or Shane Mosley that could boost his career and easily be king for short period of time.
I can see the pacman fighting style when I watched amir khan fight. If this kid can fight like the pacman in younger year, maybe he can reach what the pacman attain or much more than that. just keep your feet on the ground and always pray so allah bless you with powers you need.
Everytime i read this guys article i hear Liev Schreiber's voice on my head...weird!!!
king khan is different from the pacman! Khan is precise and accurate in landing the job while pacman always does the hail mary punch!
amir khan vs edwin valero
King Khan is now ready for pacman! If you have the guts to fight him tell your pacman to get ready coz his fight with mayweather is not going to happen coz King Khan will knock him out in their sparring session!
Khan shud fight Marquez next at 140....
asopusakal: why are you afraid to put your pacman in the line with the great King Khan?
Khan was impressive. but unlike his stablemate Pacman, his chin was still a question. Even he has the guts to fight Pac he needs to knock him in sparring. Or else he still needs to eat more rice...but well done, Amir.
hitman, why insist of letting pacman fight khan when khan himself said he would never fight pacman. what's really your agenda? wala ka nang maisip na iba.
hi hitmom! are you there? oyu're right but the way King Khan handled salita for 76 seconds i dont think pacman can survive the onslaught of the king!
Tae: you dont know what ARE YOU TALKING! bOXING IS A BUSINESS AND IF THE TIME COMES YOU WILL SEE HOW THIS FELLAS FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY AND THATS THE BOTTOM LINE COZ THE HITMAN SAID SO!
Amir Khan vs The big mouth Tim Bradley[bostful]
I think that was a lucky shot, tho I bet on khan to win, that sing freakish hit was the key and after that he never recoverd.
I do wanna see khan beat the shyt out of maliggnagi
Khan is a good fighter but pac has a place for him if they fight,.IN a can !
pacman already knock king khan in sparring in one round you stupido....amir is offerd by manny but amir turn it down...look at what breides presscott did to your king khong
amir cannot survive in pacmans world......you know why research stupid
hey hitman! i see u talk a lot of crap. I'd luv to meet u face to face and see wat ur all about. I think you're like the gayweather who talks the talk but won't walk the walk.
give the guy some due respect that he deserves after all he had won this fight through hardwork and sacrifice...
khan vs jccjr
I predicted a first round knockout for Amir Khan. How about that, ha! Credit should be given to Alex Ariza also. It seems like only Roach is getting it. I agree that Roach deserves much of the accolades, but let us give Ariza a no less than 90% of what we give Roach. Roach provides his boxers with the battle plans while Ariza supplies the ammunition. Hooooray Fredie!!!Hooray Alex!!
Let us give Ariza no less than 90% of the credit we give Roach. Recall that Manny's feet wobbled when hit by Marquez. Marquez punches are less stronger than the bigger Cotto. It shows that Alex, over time, develops not only the strenght and stamina of his boxers but also their durability, I believe. I hope I am correct.
lol at brawler, for Khan to reach 7th worldtitle he needs to win heavyweight belt lol... @Hitman... you crazy bastard... who the hell is Salita? he's not even a world champion, now you tell us he's ready for Pacman! crazy idiot.
Hey hitman, your guy Khan has a very high ladder to climb before he can be called great.It's just funny how you say that Pacquiao fans are afraid to put our idol in line with yours. Maybe you should ask yourself this question first, do i really believe in what i am saying?lol. long way to go my friend. Khan is a good champion but to be said great is just premature.
to pipoy! world title doesn't mean 7th division!
Salita has a glassy chin and not enough power to make Khan's think twice, Marcos Maidana of Argentina has what it takes to whoop Amir Khan's ass, enough of patsies.
He lost, last time, you said he is chinny; now he beat Salita, you are saying Salita is chinny - any excuse really to dismiss Khan talent
Who has Khan beat, seriously? Salita was unbeaten by UNKNOWN fighters! Khan seriously has a lot of thinking to do before all these starts pouring into his already big ego. He hasn't fought any fighter worth mentioning here. No wonder why most British fans dont like him he is another Floyd Jr. in the making when it comes to ego. He'll beat Hatton no problem but c'mmon dont even mention his name next to Manny and Mayweather, just like where he is now, it is ocean apart.
Are you forgetting when Amir Khan turned Marco Antonio Barrera into a bleeding mess? You guy's dont seem to really follow these guys well enough to know. MAB was a 7 time world champion.
You are all idiot downplaying Amir Khan. I mean come on, he's only 22 turning 23 years of age. Pacquiao have had poor performances before especially with Morales. And now you're comparing Khan against the present Pacquiao?!
Stupid Super-Pacnuthuggers.
To all idiot Pacnuthuggers,
You might as well try to research how Manny Pacquiao got knocked out two (2) times by two (2) UNKNOWN fighters. Does anyone of you around here know anything about Rustico Torrecampo & Medgoen Singsurat?
Who the hell even thought that Amir Khan should be matched-up against Pacquiao at this point of their careers?
Amir Khan even stated himself that he has no intention of challenging or fighting Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach on Pacquiao and Khan:
“They have speed and power. When Manny was 22, I had him win the 122lb world title. When Amir was 22, he won the world title at 140lb. He’s on a similar path.”
HOW ABOUT A REMATCH WITH BREIDIS PRESSCOT
Freddie Roach on Pacquiao and Khan:
“They have speed and power. When Manny was 22, I had him win the 122lb world title. When Amir was 22, he won the world title at 140lb. He’s on a similar path.”
Freddie Roach on Pacquiao and Khan:
“They have speed and power. When Manny was 22, I had him win the 122lb world title. When Amir was 22, he won the world title at 140lb. He’s on a similar path.”
GOOD FOR KHAN BUT ITS NOTHING TO BE HYPE UP ABOUT..NOT UNLESS HE'LL FIGHT AN ELITE 140 FIGHTER.SALITA IS AN OKAY FIGHTER BUT HE'S NOTHING TO BE CRAZY ABOUT..HE'S JUST AN ALRIGHT FIGHTER...
I WILL DOMINATE BOXING FOR A LONG TIME MARK THESE WORDS
MY NEXT FIGHT WILL BE AGAINST TIMOTHY BRADLEY ANOTHER UNBEATEN AMERICAN.
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