Manny Pacquiao’s camp knows there?s a pressing need for him to produce a jaw-dropping knockout victory to regain fans? interest for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao, who rose to superstardom by toppling the likes of Ricky Hatton, David Diaz, and Miguel Cotto, hasn?t knocked out anyone since 2009.
This is one of the possible reasons why Pacquiao?s handlers chose Amir Khan as his next foe, according to fight analyst Ed Tolentino.
?Pacquiao needs a riveting knockout win to revive interest in a rematch with Mayweather,? explained Tolentino. ?Another ho-hum win will just convince many that he has, to paraphrase a song, ?lost that glovin? feeling.? ?
Enter Khan. The British boxing star is a more marketable option compared to Jeff Horn, the Australian previously announced by Bob Arum as Pacquiao?s next opponent.
Khan is more recognizable, has a huge following back in Britain, and has an interesting storyline with Pacquiao who is his former raining partner.
Most important of all, he has porcelain for a chin.
?There are issues about his chin. Of his 4 losses, 3 were by knockout. And each knockout loss was decapitating. Khan tends to unravel when the battle goes into the trenches,? said Tolentino.
Another issue for the Bolton-based boxer is that he hasn?t fought since his knockout loss to Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez in May 2016.
This, however, doesn?t mean that Pacquiao will have a walk in the park against Khan.
The former unified light welterweight champion is putting his career at risk in agreeing to fight the Filipino boxer.
?Do take note that Khan will likely put it all on the line if they do meet. Another KO loss to Pacquiao will definitely mean the end of his career,? said Tolentino.
So what does Pacquiao need to do to beat Khan and line himself up for a possible rematch against Mayweather?
?Pacquiao must show that he has regained his search-and-destroy persona. This will whet the fans’ appetite. That’s why he needs a KO win,? said Tolentino.
