Its been a relatively long road, awaiting the Bolton fighter Amir Khan to get his hands on the world title he has on so many occasions set his sights on, so will waiting an extra month really be that bad? Allot has been said in the press mainly from Khan?s camp about excuses but this fight will be worth the wait. Khan has moved up to light-welterweight to have a shot at Andreas Kotelnik?s WBA Light-Welterweight title at the famous Manchester MEN arena, on Saturday 18th July.
There has been a lot of speculation if Khan will be able to re-peak or not, if he is to live up to the hype Freddie Roach?s latest addition must come away with a victory and nothing less on 18 July. Khan need?s to earn his place at boxings top table by doing this it would require to maintain training camp longer than planned. It?s now or never for Khan to show the world that he is serious, he has to battle of mental readjustments and surrounding physical implications before he can even think about the all out war that lies ahead of him when facing an opponent of the quality of Kotelnik.
Do not rule out the Hamburg based Ukrainian as he is a solid world champion, and let?s not forget he has never been on the canvas as an amateur or professional, in which the same cannot be said for the Bolton fighter. This means nothing after his last outing against the modern day legend Marco Antonio Barrera, in which is up there amongst the likes of Calzaghe Vs Lacy personally for me, it was as much a punch perfect performance as I thought was possible from Khan. Khan was composed throughout the Barrera bout showing fantastically improved defensive abilities, which of course is needed when your sparring partner is non other than the pound for pound king that is Manny Pacquiao.
In terms of predictions I don?t think this fight will go the distance one way or another, one fighter has to be stopped and I think in his third defence of the title Kotelnik took from Gavin Rees, and in his own words has said he can?t see this fight going past six rounds. You cannot take for granted after the devastating knock out in which he annihilated Rees. The nine year age gap means nothing as the nine years will be inconsequential come 18th July in Manchester, as he will be looking to ?take him back to school? whilst also saying he will be in for a miserable night but I beg to differ.
There will be no place to hide and neither should not look past this fight as if either fighter does this then undoubtedly they will be the one looking at lights out. Khan will have to use his fluidity throughout, fighting primarily on the outside working everything off the jab using his height and reach advantage, and if he does this his speed will be the difference and only when he does this he will make this great champion relinquish his beloved WBA Light-Welterweight title in front of Khan?s home crowd. Who unlike that night back in September should get fully behind as Britain looks to have another world champion amongst its midst.
As I feel this fight will be worth the wait to see if Khan is for real or not, only time will tell and if all goes to plan, 18th July will be the night in which the boxing world takes note that this boxer is going to the top in this business. This will be a make or break night for both so miss this and miss out. Even with all the delays and set backs neither fighters hunger will diminish, this has potential to be a classic as I think both fighters will be firing all cylinders as the night in question is fast approaching. Will Freddie Roach have another world champion on Sunday the 19th or just another could have been, I personally can?t wait to see this monumental fight, with good contrasting styles the pressure is now on.
