Amir Khan aiming to unify light-welterweight division

[The_budweiser]

Amir Khan has vowed to unify the light-welterweight division after retaining his WBA title with an 11th-round victory over Paulie Malignaggi.

 

Khan, 23, enjoyed an impressive American debut with victory over New Yorker Malignaggi, who was outclassed throughout Saturday's fight.

 

"I'm making 140lb easy, I feel strong," Khan said following his victory.

 

"I'm not leaving 140lb until I unify the title. Until I'm number one I'm not going to leave this division."

 

For Khan, who has been tipped to step up in weight, it was the second defence of his WBA title, having beaten Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle last December.

 

"It's my first fight away from home so I'm very happy," added Bolton's Khan.

 

"He was an awkward opponent, but we stuck to the gameplan and stopped him in the 11th round.

 

"We had to break him down slowly, we didn't want to run in there trying to knock him out because we would have got caught with shots.

 

"I was a little nervous, I was fighting in his home town but I put in the hard work in the gym and I knew my work ethic would carry me home."

 

After beating Malignaggi, Khan said he was confident of defending his title again against mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana of Argentina.

 

The big hitting Maidana boasts 27 wins from his 28 fights, with 26 stoppages and should provide a sterner test of the Bolton man's credentials.

 

And Khan is also targeting a unification fight against unbeaten WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley or unbeaten WBC and IBF light welterweight champion Devon Alexander.

 

"I want to meet the likes of Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander to unify the titles," said Khan.

 

"Maidana is a great fighter, but I know I can beat him.

 

"I'd like to fight him next and I feel I've made a statement with this win.

 

"I'll fight Maidana and if Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley fight, like two semi-finals, then the winners can fight each other to see who is the number one."

 

Trainer Freddie Roach added: "The key factor was the jab and he showed a lot of composure and stuck to the gameplan."

 

And Malignaggi paid tribute to Khan, adding: "I don't know if I'm getting old, I'm 29, I didn't feel old.

 

"Amir just came and fought a very good fight, very busy, a lot of angles. He kept me at a distance.

 

"When I turned pro I had a very similar style to Amir and I ran into a clone of myself, he was stronger, bigger and faster.

 

"He was very busy, I couldn't keep up with him I guess, I couldn't get the distance right.

 

"He had that youthful enthusiasm, he stayed busy, he wanted it and I give him a lot of credit."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8685082.stm

[Wheelchair]

I'll believe it when I see it.......

[super_hoops1967]

Let's see what roach says before we get excited

[Wheelchair]

I have a feeling that anyone with KO's into double figures wont be considered by Khan's team.

 

Another powder-puff puncher coming up.....

[McBride]

Give the kid the benifit of the doubt eh? At least it appears to be in his mind, the same as when he admitted he'd like to fight either Pacciow or Mayweather when they are nearing the end of their careers, not now.

 

If Roach doesn't let him attempt to unify, its hardly Khans fault. He might surprise people and change trainers, even if he loses at least he'll have tried.

[WelshDevilRob]

Give the kid the benifit of the doubt eh? At least it appears to be in his mind, the same as when he admitted he'd like to fight either Pacciow or Mayweather when they are nearing the end of their careers, not now.

 

If Roach doesn't let him attempt to unify, its hardly Khans fault. He might surprise people and change trainers, even if he loses at least he'll have tried.

 

Fair statement, mate. I suppose we forget how young he is. This win will give him confidence and hopefully he gets one of the divisions big names.

[Wheelchair]

Yeah, but he's ALWAYS talking about facing tougher fighters and never actually doing it.

[Wheelchair]

warren// opens his rectal orifice re Khan...... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8685200.stm

[iamasadlittleboy]

I'm calling it...Cuenca next...

[Wheelchair]

Yeah, he's unbeaten at 37-0 so we will be told he's mega dangerous.

 

HE ONLY HAS ONE KO THOUGH!

 

That's right, just ONE!!!!

[iamasadlittleboy]

Yeah, he's unbeaten at 37-0 so we will be told he's mega dangerous.

 

HE ONLY HAS ONE KO THOUGH!

 

That's right, just ONE!!!!

 

37-0-0-1 so "unbeaten in 38"...>_>

 

The second best fighter with "Rene" as their second name in the division ;-)

[Wheelchair]

Looks like we're in for more poor quality in the opposite corner, I mean, why change the habits of a lifetime?

[gavpowell]

Yeah, but he's ALWAYS talking about facing tougher fighters and never actually doing it.

 

Weren't you the one who said in the shoutbox before the fight started that you thought Paulie might well surprise Khan?

[iamasadlittleboy]

Yeah, but he's ALWAYS talking about facing tougher fighters and never actually doing it.

 

Weren't you the one who said in the shoutbox before the fight started that you thought Paulie might well surprise Khan?

 

I had money on Paulie though merely as a "well...you never know", in the same way I will have money on Sosnowski...you never never know, and whats a couple of quid?...

[Wheelchair]

Yeah, but he's ALWAYS talking about facing tougher fighters and never actually doing it.

 

Weren't you the one who said in the shoutbox before the fight started that you thought Paulie might well surprise Khan?

 

Only in the fact that he MIGHT catch that china chin on the way in and make him take a short count. I wasn't saying Paulie would win, there was no chance of that!

[Andre00]

Khan, talks like a 23 year old, he needs to grow up and gain more knowledge on the boxing game, at first he was mentioning names like Manny and Floyd, now after being schooled, he mentioned names that is actually in his league. I think he has potential, but still needs more work, he punches wildly and constantly losing balance after missing a punch, which is dangerous!! He also mentioned he believes he is the faster puncher in the game, which i yet need to see, but i was impress with the compubox results, close to 40% in all three category. Overall, interesting development but.... i want to see him against Maidana !! have to test that chin !!!

[brooklynbrawler]

I don't think he said anything out of place, at the end of his fight for once!

Max Kellerman just asked if he was hanging about at the weight....interestingly, I've never even heard any rumours that he's struggling to make the weight (especially given since he's only fairly recently moved up from lightweight without it being forced upon him?) and who he'd like to fight next.

Alexander and Bradley are undoubtedly the best in the division, so he "should" have the ambition to face these guys.

And he said he's ready for Maidana any time, although by all accounts he should have been facing him instead of Paulie this time around, but at least he's said it, but all Maidana has to do is come out and say he wants it, and his hand should be forced....if he doesn't then the issue is with Maidana and not Khan afterall...

[davemurphy]

Khan, talks like a 23 year old, he needs to grow up and gain more knowledge on the boxing game, at first he was mentioning names like Manny and Floyd, now after being schooled, he mentioned names that is actually in his league. I think he has potential, but still needs more work, he punches wildly and constantly losing balance after missing a punch, which is dangerous!! He also mentioned he believes he is the faster puncher in the game, which i yet need to see, but i was impress with the compubox results, close to 40% in all three category. Overall, interesting development but.... i want to see him against Maidana !! have to test that chin !!!

 

Andre-

Well, he does talk like a 23 year old, but then he IS a 23 year old, correct? :)

To me, he sounds exactly like I would suspect a hot prospect who got schooled and working his way back to sound.

[Andre00]

Yeah ! that is what i was referring too, Dave

[davemurphy]

Yeah ! that is what i was referring too, Dave

 

Sorry, Andre, I thought you were knocking him for being young and stupid, which is something a LOT of us were when we were 23 :)

[SeelowHeights]

Khan's often talked a lot of sewage as a bit of a smokescreen - we had it with Thaxton when Thaxton said he'd fight Khan for nothing (Obviously factually wrong, but a tough British champ who had come down in weight and was strong at the time, this was before he lost to Mezaache) only for Khan to say he was past his level (shit or get off the pot then son). There were hints about fighting Romanov for the European, but in the end it was another feather-fisted fighter in Kristjansen.

 

Devon Alexander should have a TV date for early August as he offered that to Kotelnik, who said he was thinking of going to welter and probably will decline. Now, if Khan wants to unify, there's a chance right there which shouldn't be hard to keep in shape for. Maidana couldn't get the fight with him (heh, anyone see the common thread yet looking at the first paragraph?) so went for the probable man in the division in Bradley, then unfortunately injured his back. Hopefully it's not a severe one.

 

Apparently Katsidis is in the reckoning. Why? Smaller fighter again. Judah, Witter (both of those would need a tune-up), Ortiz, Maidana and Holt are all one-punch hitters at 140. Alexander has speed to burn. We'll have to wait and see, but usually anything Khan says on opponents can be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

[Faulks]

Although i agree with a lot you have said Seelow. I think he's getting to that stage where he's going to struggle to hide at 140. Theres some good fighters in there and the Yanks wont put up with his crap for ever.

[Wheelchair]

Maidana and Holt are all one-punch hitters at 140. Alexander has speed to burn. We'll have to wait and see, but usually anything Khan says on opponents can be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

 

Exactly, Amir loves to spout off about how he's going to fight all these guys and never does. Put up or shut up, eh Amir?

[davemurphy]

Devon Alexander should have a TV date for early August as he offered that to Kotelnik, who said he was thinking of going to welter and probably will decline. Now, if Khan wants to unify, there's a chance right there which shouldn't be hard to keep in shape for. Maidana couldn't get the fight with him (heh, anyone see the common thread yet looking at the first paragraph?) so went for the probable man in the division in Bradley, then unfortunately injured his back. Hopefully it's not a severe one.

 

Selow-

The Devon Alexander fight for August 7th is going to be in St.Louis, the venue is set before the opponent is in this case (pretty good co-feature with the resecheduling of Tavoris Cloud-Glen Johnson onto that card). I'm hoping to attend, and was wanting Kotelnik to say Yes. The last thing I want is for them to settle for Zab Judah, who's done nothing lately to deserve it and is pretty much just a six round fighter anymore.

 

While I agree with your sentiment that if Amir wants a good opponent, he could Volunteer, but I think it's being in Devon's hometown kind of takes it out of play. Hopefully they'll meet down the road after that.

[iamasadlittleboy]

I think Khan would beat Bradley though thats only because Bradley doesn't have world level pop and is giving away a few inches in reach...Alexander would eat Khan for breakfast. Has Khan fought a southpaw since Stefy Bull?