This past weekend, WBA junior lightweight champion Amir Khan once again elevated his status in the sport after stopping then-IBF champion Zab Judah inside of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Khan was in control throughout the contest, seizing the initiative and befuddling Judah with his speed, and saw a viscous right hand to the body end matters two minutes and forty-seven seconds into the fifth round.
So dominant was Khan that The Ring Magazine officially moved him up as the division?s number one fighter, surpassing an inactive Timothy Bradley, and the British star seems poised for a December return before a possible move to 147 pounds sometime next year. But while there is much to appreciate with the 24-year old champion, not everyone has been singing Khan?s praises.
WBA lightweight boss Brandon Rios, a few weeks removed from a hectic 3rd round TKO over Urbano Antillon himself, took in the action this past weekend and is far from smitten towards his fellow champion.
?You know what? No disrespect to Amir Khan, I don?t see nothing special,? Rios opened up. ?They?re trying to make him like this big, special thing. I?m not saying that I?m the best fighter ever, but you know what? I don?t see nothing special about Amir Khan. I?m sure that he would say the same about me, that he doesn?t? see anything special about me.?
Rios continued, taking more of dig at the 33-year old former champion Judah than Khan.
?To me, honestly, he fought a guy, Zab Judah, who is old. He was done and over with. He acted like he didn?t want to fight no more when he got hit low. He was just looking for a payday,? said Rios.
I had to ask Rios how he would size up and fight a rangy boxer like Khan and he seemed almost offended that I would have to ask such a question.
