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Can Amir Khan make it back to the top?
By Jacob Roberts: Last Saturday Amir Khan gained his first win for nearly 18 months with a TKO victory against overmatched Carlos Molina. It was a must win fight for Khan, who’s reputation was in tatters after successive defeats in the last year. Forced into a rebuilding process, he is now remoulding his style with the help of new trainer Virgil Hunter.
Known for his teaching of defensive technique, Hunter has shaped the career of unified Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward. Ward’s defensive style can adjust to whichever opponent he is facing, something that Khan has failed to do.
After working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach for several years, Khan has all the offensive tools needed to be a top fighter. However, his lack of punch resistance means he has to learn and develop a new defensive style to protect his chin.
Without criticising Khan’s previous handlers, Hunter believed that the training Khan was doing were inappropriate for boxing. He thinks that Khan’s upper body was not proportionate to his lower half, and he was “flabbergasted” when he found out that Khan had never done any neck strengthening in his life.
Hunter has great belief in Khan’s ability saying, “Offensively, he’s second to none, and that’s putting it mildly”.
It is the ring intelligence that Hunter wants to improve. The knowledge of what punches to throw and when, and what parts of the ring he should fight in.
Another obstacle for Hunter is changing the mentality of Khan. He has to reign in the red mist that descends when Khan gets tagged. To teach him to be calm when under pressure without taking away that fighting spirit which every fighter needs.
I don’t believe that Khan has a glass jaw, but against a puncher like Garcia it is hardly a granite one. He showed in the Maidana fight that he can take a shellacking and has the heart of a champion.
Hunter likens him to a wild cat, “He’s a leopard. He’s got all the weaponry of a leopard. He’s got the instincts and attributes of a leopard. But sometimes they’re in a hurry, and they think that because I’m a leopard that the opponent is supposed to stand there while I grab them, kill them and eat them”. “You have to learn the terrain, you have to practice your stealth, you have to know when to show your head and when not to show your head. And when you bite you have to know where to bite and how hard”.
I was an interested observer on Saturday to see what changes Hunter had implemented. Khan’s style was often compared to that of an amateur where he bounced around on his toes constantly. I noticed in the first few seconds that he was more settled in his movement, that his feet were more firmly planted giving him better balance and a more solid base to throw punches.
Also, it was apparent that he was throwing more single shots than usual. Khan is renowned for throwing five or six punch combinations at blazing speed, but it seemed that he was picking his punches in a more scientific fashion. Remember, Garcia dropped him after he leapt in with a combination throwing a lazy right. I did not see evidence of this in the Molina fight.
He used the pivot movement more than in his previous fights. As he countered with these single shots, he used pivots to move to areas where Molina could not hit him. This is something that Ward often uses to great effect.
Whether these small changes add up to something more substantial is yet to be seen. A rematch with Garcia in 2013 would reveal whether Khan has succeeded in developing a new style that can evade punishment
If he can do it with his mouth….yes.
WTF does Ali have to do with Garcia? Get a clue douchenozzle…
Sredmond….. Garcia is certainly as good a fighter as the first 3 guys who upset Muhammad Ali… Norton certainly had a glass jaw, a vulnerable cross-armed defense, and a blooping and awkward delievery of some of his swings—whereas Garcia has an excellent stance, compact weaponry, and a better chin than Norton.. Frazier was basically a left hooker.. Garcia is well rounded with every weapon in the book.. Spinks was a novice with a 6-0-1 record.. Garcia was 23-0 when he fought Khan.
Garcia was an unbeaten and untied World Champion with 23 fights under his belt, a devastating hitter, a good boxer, and the coolest counterpuncher you ever saw.
Khan has to avenges his 3 losses before any hypes. he sounds like FLOMOS, little N…….aint shtt but tricks.
Whiteboy – Zab is a mental midget and has no heart. His lost every big fight he got even this con Khan beat him while he quit from a blow on the belt line fcuk him.
the only top he ever made was the one girls need to cover their boobs ..
NO
No
Yeah he can get a belt off a less than elite A grade champ but if he’s I’n there with the elite, no chance
Joe,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKhcok2jgMU
Tried that!
HE SHOULD BE ALOUD TO WEAR A HEADGEAR IN ALL HIS FIGHT. ALL MUSLIMS HAVE GLASS JAWS GIVE HIM A BREAK HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED IN BOXING
HE’LL BE ALRIGHT HE JUST NEEDS TO RAP A PILLOW AROUND HIS CHIN AMIR KHAN SUCKS ASS HE HAS DEMENTIA JUST CALL IT A DAY YOU BUM….
Only if he hadn’t been mismanaged.
It’s one thing for Amir to believe his bullsh; it’s another for Amir to believe that we should believe his bullsh, and that’s the problem. We’re suppose to forget what we’ve seen and instead buy into the hype. How insulting.
i hope judah beats garcia and gets a second chance against khan. After what has happened to khan lately i’m actually kinda surprised khan beat him, i know hes over the hill but damn. I have no idea why but i’ve always likied Judah. I think if Khan is matched up with the rite opponents there is no doubt he can become a beltholder for a while. But I can also see him gettin overconfident after a couple wins and fightin someone he shouldnt even if hes advised against it. Bottom line he thinks hes better than he is and he talks too much, period the end
Yes Khan’s got the talent, it’s just that chin he needs to protect.
Really? I mean i guess picking smaller fighters with no power a solution. Guess he wont have to correct that god awful defense to protect that clearly weak chin. Wlads chin hasnt gotten stronger but his technique has improved. Khan could learn from that. Maybe learn some humility.
Khan got caught by left hooks against Molina. Against Garcia, this would be devastating. Garcia sets up his shots and would eventually set Khan up again. Khan’s combination punching is the weakest part of his game against elite fighters who can time and punch.
Not really. Still dont see no difference
Not unless he learns to accept his flaws…which he doesn’t, and adjusts accordingly. I think that’s the point neil. Self confodence is one thing…thinking that your invincible and every loss is due to bad luck? There’s a bit of difference there don’t u think?
Khan make it back to the top? NO!
“…. most times he fights …..” typo
I dont know why people get annoyed at Khan ‘bigging-himself-up’ …. I really dont understand why it winds people up. He is a fighter and self-confidence is an asset no matter how deluded that fighter may or may not be. What Khan says is no different from what most fighters say at that level. For some reason people just hate it coming from Khans mouth but happily accept it from other fighters regardless of their quality. For me, Khan gives value for money most times he fighters …. that is good enough for me. He makes mistakes but win or lose, it is usually entertaining. I think he can take Malignaggi again and Garcia is still a winnable fight for him providing he tightens up that defence.
Khan does NOT have “New Skills” he was in the ring with a guy who was built to help his confidence and allow him to safely explore some new tactics… The true test of a fighters commitment to changing styles is over time, and being faced with opponents that will force him out his comfort zone… That Molina bout should fool no one, what will Khan do when bombs are coming at his head or reaching his chin? Because he is going to get hit again believe that!!
Floyd and Ali were NOT getting knocked out by guys like Prescott and Garcia…. Amir Khan can talk all he wants but the reality is that he is NOT an elite fighter nor has he EVER been one…He is a very good fighter and he has natural talent but he has yet to show consistent dominance… I give him credit because he does seek to fight the BEST available fighters but Khans mouth has written checks his azzzz cannot cash thus far
I can’t wait for Khan to fight Garcia again. I think it would be a great fight and I will pick Khan to win. I think some of you Khan haters don’t understand the difference between bragging and self confidence. Boxers need to believe in their ability. Ali and Floyd are perfect examples of this. Do I believe Khan will make it to the top again – ABSOLUTELY. The kid is dedicated to making himself better and for this I give him all the respect.
I believe that he can. I think he is with a trainer that keeps him humble. I think being around the WILD CARD GYM and being friends with Pacman made him bite off more than he could chew. Instead of taking babysteps to become one of the elite; he was swayed into believing he was already that because of his surroundings and the company he kept. He seemed to me to be trying to be too much like Pacman; as if he was living in his shadow. It’s a blessing that everything happened the way it did. Everything happens for a reason; even though sometimes we don’t understand why. I give this young man an excellent chance of getting back on top. I believe a rematch with Garcia is an ORDER. And I believe that this time around with a better attitude and patience being taught to him and him being open minded to learn from Hunter; that Khan will surely BEAT GARCIA. He was whipping his ass in the fight he lost. He simply allowed his heart to get involved and stopped using his head; and that’s why he lost that fight. Garcia is DEFINITELY BEATABLE. He has been fortunate to fight a fighter who at the time did not use his head but had excellent skills and he beat an Erik Morales WHO IS WELL PAST HIS PRIME. To be honest; I wouldn’t be surprised if Judah did not give this kid hell; and send him back to to drawing board when they fight in Feb 2013.
New skills or not, still find the attitude a bit aggravating. Like Garcia OWES him a rematch… Like Khan is simply SUPPOSED to be at the top and it’s unreasonable not to play along. If he’s in the mood for rematches why not work his way up the tree again with Maidana, McCloskey, even (Lord help us) Prescott… before he makes another fight with Garcia?
Wlad has ruled the sport with his pussy chin for years, so yeh, Khan can come back
Let’s hope not.
Jab Judah, Paulie Maliggnani they all won a belt after getting KO’d im sure Khan can do the same, he just needs to stop pretending he is an elite level fighter and just be happy being a talented one with flaws and start acting like it..
sure he can bc the powers that be want him there but as soon as he fights any fighter with serious power its nite nite time.
That comment earlier about Khan having no heart was ridiculous, the kid cannot take a solid punch to the chops, but he has a lot of heart. When he’s terribly hurt, he never gives in and fights right to the end. Prescott had to literally put him to sleep and he wanted to continue against Garcia.
To answer the question, he can win a world title if carefully matched, but I can’t see how he can ever beat a puncher. He simply cannot take world class power and that has been shown on too many occasions now. He needs to stay well away from punchers or even guys that can dig a little.
Khan is ambitious… He has an ego… That’s why he changed trainers because he can’t stand losing. He’s a bit cocky but he believes everything he says and that can be dangerous. He just needs to keep his nose to the grindstone for a couple of years before he mixes with Garcia, Matthysse or Rios. He needs to be realistic about what he can do to “anyone in the world.” Wladimir said he was still getting better after 9 years with Steward, although he learned as much as he could as fast as he could — so you don’t learn everything you’re missing in a few months. That’s impossible.
You didn’t get knocked out because you were so great.
There is no need to write-Khan-off just yet. Give the kid a break.
back to the top?????? wow that was a great joke to start a friday….. since when was he ever there? picking washed up fighters who used to be in their prime and also using oscar to feed him non punchers and bums to pad his record…. the only hald decent fighters he fought was malinaggi (non puncher) and maidana….
a faded barrera which gets no credit at all is the biggest name on his record…. wonder why he never mentions this legend…. cos it WAS A FARCE just like the rest of his cherry picking…. im glad he won another paper title last weekend and all his arrogance after the bell came rushing back… it will just make it that much sweeter when he has to face someone decent and get knocked out cold!!!!
Still laughing at his comments after the fight ”when i fight like this there is no1 in the world that touches me”
who does he honestly think he is!!!! i am still laughing at the thought he thinks he is up there with mayweather and pacquiao…. last time i checked he’s a long long long way from being that good and especially with his cowardly attitude…. very deluded!!!!
Froch – Hatton are the only champions recently that england can be proud of for their warrior attitude and taking on the best regardless of being beat or not…. of khan had their heart then people would like him… but claiming you are one of the best in the world and beating a who’s who of nobodies and seeing what the other champions are doing clearly proves he’s a joke
Good point. Who would of thought after Sander annihilated Wladimir and when Brewster stopped him; that Wladimir would come back the way he did. Sometimes, getting stopped a beaten a couple of times does the beaten fighter a favour. Wladimir has now developed a style that limits his short-comings.
What so many fight fans forget,is that Khan is still very much a work in progress.Because he shot to the top so quick,people have it in their minds that he’s the finished article,but he isn’t/Much of that is due to Khan’s handlers of a)putting Khan in the hands of Roach, and b)leaving him with Roach way too long.As a resullt,you can see his losses are a direct result of the flaws he has either kept or been taught by Roach.Roach knows just one way of coaching – offence,his understanding of defence amounts to running,which is not defence.If you don’t believe this,just look at the imorovements Khan has already made under Virgil,as someone else has already said,vs Molina,Khan is no longer retreating in straight lines.How could Roach let a basic flaw like that stay put for years? Yes,Khan still has some major flaws,but he’s very skilled,fast and young,and now he has a real world class coach you will see him develop as he should have.If he fights Garcia,probably later in 2013,you’ll see him destroy Garcia and wonder how the heck he lost the first fight.
The Wladimir Klitschko scenario Anon pointed out is a good one—that could apply to Khan… Wladimir is unbeaten in over 8 years and 16 fights—since getting dropped 9 times earlier in his career and stopped 3 times—at a time when he couldn’t clinch, had a problematic boxing stance, average footwork, a leaky defense, and a merely good jab.
It’s amazing what a great stance, great footwork, great feinting skills, great clinching skills, a great jab, and a solid defense can do for you. Khan may have just as much ambition, intelligence, diligent work ethic, and patience as Wladimir—and Hunter is as great a trainer as Steward … almost.
Golden boy will make sure he will…but Hecdog said it all,one punch and its over hes just a cash cow .I keep saying it all he has is heart and fast hands he’s a cry baby always someone else’s fault when he looses.He and gb will nick a tittle then as soon as he takes on some one half descent he will get KOd……AGAIN.Im not a khan hater like some just fed up of all the domestic level fighters who keep getting called elite he’s one level above journey man and there’s no shame in that.
Still drops his right every time he throws anything with the left, still vulnerable to the left hook as a result (got caught a good few times against Molina). He has stopped backing off in a straight line which is better, but if he gets caught by a puncher then it’s goodnight again I’m afraid.
Molina is a 5ft 6″ blown up lightwieght with no real power and khan is a huge Junior welter at 5ft 10″. I reckon thats why he wants to retire at 28/29 years old as he knows he will have to move up in weights as his body gets natuarally bigger, and if he gets caught by bigger men then it sleep time.
Good luck to him and he probably will win a version of a world title against malignaggi or even for a vacant title if some moves up/vacates/or is stripped. As soon as he fights anybody who can walk through him, hit him hard it’s over again I’m afraid.
Khan will “make it back to the top” the same day Rosie O’Donnell wins a beauty contest. :-P
Khan was a vulnerable world class fighter before Garcia and Peterson beat him .. and he still is. Khan will be around the top for a while yet. Winning a version of the belt again is within his ability.
Yeah of cause he can. HE can be a world champ again. He’d beat Malignaggi again …. Garcia is a winnable fight for him. Khan still has a bright future.
Tark…Agreed Khan is young and in 2yrs. time he learns good infighting skills we could see a major change in the kid.Like when W.K. got blasted out by Sanders everybody thought it was over for the glass jawed kid…but Steward showed him how to work around that.Yes Khan is different then W.K. but the same rebuilding working around flaws applies.And yes BUMS dont get as far as Khan did.
Good article, but Khan did get tagged 3 or 4 times by Molina, except the punches were too light. Interesting that Hunter says Khan is disproportionate because Ariza said the same thing, Khan must be slightly bemused by the shuffling of his physique. He’ll get back to the top, I don’t think he has a glass jaw and the neck strengthening should help a little.
Roberts writes.., “A rematch with Garcia in 2013 would reveal whether Khan has succeeded in developing a new style that can evade punishment.” … I can tell you right now Khan hasn’t succeeded in developing a new style that can evade punishment in one training camp. This was Amir’s first fight under Hunter and he needs several fights to make him a complete fighter. Fighting the best 140-pounder in the world twice within such a narrow time frame—especially considering the comprehensive smashing Amir absorbed in their first fight—would be incredibly stupid. Khan is a young guy. He can afford to take 2 years to develop infighting skills, inside defensive skills, and solid clinching skills—as well as refine his ability to duck, slip, and parry blooping bombs, wild swings, and loaded uppercuts of the variety Maidana smashed him with.
It IS flabbergasting that neither Freddie Roach nor Alex Ariza taught Khan how to strengthen his neck.. I can’t even believe that … That’s basic stuff you teach subnovice amateurs.
Why are we beating this subject to death? Khan is a one hit wonder, The glass jaw will always let him down. Next subject please.
You guys are crazy..the kid had world belts and he wasnt on top…cmon.No he wasnt Mayweather and never will be.Anybody who is in the top 10 in the div. they fight in is on top.You guys are confusing top fighters..elite fighters..A.T.G.fighters together.I think people dont know how hard it is to break in the top 5 or 10 fighters in their wt.class and lighter div. even more so.If you have 2 world belts in your div. and people think your not a top fighter well….then I got a bridge for sale overlooking the Hudson.Lets not forget boxing is a global sport..how many guys on here broke into the top 10 in their div. when they fought how many had world belts…all together now???
nope he is a proper bum……..
it would be a nice gesture if Khan can let his coach help Manny resurrect his boxing. A good defense lesson should be a good start.
Amir Khan was NEVER on top to begin with and he NEVER will be. He is laughable at best. :-P
Sorry but NO! It’ll be fun to watch him try..btw, Amir Khan was never on top to begin with.
Making it to the top and being the very best in your wt.class are two different things.Yes he can make it to the top could already be a top fighter in his class.But being elite the guy with all the belts…to many flaws and a ? chin makes it tough.The kid has skills but big gaping flaws that are going to be hard to work around.
NO.