It’s hard to think of a fighter who has had as impressive of a turnaround in the past year as Amir Khan. On September 6th, 2008 Khan was brutally starched by Breidis Prescott in his native United Kingdom and he was all but written off by the boxing establishment. A little over sixteen months later and Khan now finds himself as the reigning WBA Jr. Welterweight champion after storming back onto the scene in 2009.
Next up for the 23 year old appears to be a May showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against Juan Manuel Marquez with rumored clashes with Zab Judah and even Floyd Mayweather on the horizon after that if he is successful. For a fighter who was left for dead following his loss to Prescott, Khan has found a way to turn around his career impressively and could be on the verge of very big things in the fight game if the Marquez fight does come off.
Wanting to get a feel for what everyone is saying about Khan and his chances to push forward in his career, I picked some choice comments on some select boxing forums on the net. In the publics’ own view, this is what everyone is saying about Khan vs. Marquez and beyond…
(M.I.C. @ BoxingScene.com)… “Marquez-Khan, I’d love to see that fight, all I can say is I’m glad Khan is with GBP and not Top Rank.”
(Rebel @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “I love this matchup. JMM would finally get a chance to become the first Mexican to win titles in 4 different weight classes. Kahn is probably the easiest matchup for him out of all of the current 140 lb titlists.
That said, this would not be an easy matchup for JMM. Kahn has speed and some pop. JMM would have to walk through some fire and use his vast experience and precision counter punching to crack Kahn’s chin. The story of this fight hinges on whether or not JMM has anything left at this point. He’s almost 37!”
(Borincano @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “Enough already. Fight your mandatory or give up your belt. I agree with a poster that they are hoping that Maidana loses and they can move on. I would like to see Khan vs Maidana and the undercard could be JMM vs Paulie. They winners take each other on.”
(lightmartyr @ BadLeftHook.com)… “The new seeing out the old Is exactly what I think this is. At 36 Marquez has had a great career, but if he loses badly here I think it’s time to hang up the gloves, then again he might stay at LW and do some more work there but at 36 what more does he have left to prove or to give? Then again, I’m sure people were saying the same about Shane Mosley.”
(Cleaner147 @ BoxingScene.com)… “C’mon Khan, thats a bit too much I think.
JMM aint shot.
JMM congratulation being the first Mexican fighter to win four world titles in four weight divisions.”
(BKING @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “Khan by UD. Bad style matchup for Marquez. This is the fight that is going to show just how old Marquez has really gotten over night.”
(Camaney @ BoxingScene.com)… “GBP dont know how to manage their investments, marquez whoops khan then what? khan back to fighting sorry ass fighters like dimitry…”
(Joe King @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “PBF beat the p*** out of JMM. That’s all JMM had left. He gets stopped in 6 rounds.”
(DLT @ BoxingScene.com)… “GBP are dumb if they put these fights together. Zab is far too big of a risk for Khan with very little reward, even if they think its just a tuneup. One really interesting thing is Khan’s name. I almost want to see his draw more then see his fight. Will he be the star in the US that he thinks he will be? Some say yes and some say Hell NO. Either way, he wont be ready for Floyd in 3 fights, espically with those 2 opponents.”
(Paul Dion @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “If this fight happens I think Khan would win..might even get a KO/TKO if he fights aggressive.”
(P.Will @ BoxingScene.com)… “no way in hell the marquez fight happens, it is too risky. they should put him in with malignaggi or maidana only two possible fights imo”
(LATIN KING @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “based on talent I would go with JMM obviously. But I’ve seen signs of him slipping that are pretty obvious.
I can’t get that Juan Diaz fight out of my head. Diaz was beating his ass for most of the fight. That s*** would never happen in JMM’s prime.
At 140 against Khan is a toss up. Khan might be too big and too fast at this stage.
But I can’t ever pick Khan with confidence. I’ve seen him fight a few times and I dont’ see anything special. Not to mention his trainer Roach is not even confident with him fighter his mandatory Maidana.”
(Drunken Cutman @ BadLeftHook.com)… “And it’s not like Marquez is powerless, although his power is certainly diminished at anything above 135, 130 even. I still doubt that he gets anywhere near Khan’s chin to land anything of worth. he’s giving up 4 inches of reach, is against very fast hands and, most importantly, Khan and Roach really know how to utilise those advantages.”
(Kris @ BoxingNews24)… “Some of you are underestimating Khan here. He’s much larger than Marquez and has developed real boxing skills under Freddie Roach. Khan’s speed is going to be too much for Marquez as he will land leather all night on Marquez. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Khan get a surprise stoppage over Marquez. Remember that Diaz nearly finished Marquez last February.
Khan’s KO loss to Prescott was a fluke in my opinion. It was a super punch that landed at the right time. But Khan also didn’t have Freddie Roach preparing him for the fight either. I think Khan will get a big win here against Marquez.”
(Click to see an exclusive photo gallery of Amir Khan training with Freddie Roach and more)
(Lenny Anaconda @ BoxingScene.com)… “It looks like both JMM and Khan don’t want anything to do with Bradley or Maidana and they just want to milk each other. And when it comes to Khan going after Zab? And I know GBP didn’t just mention a Khan-Mayweather fight. I don’t care if Mayweather beats Mosley. I still don’t want to see anymore mismatches like Mayweather-Khan that if Floyd is gonna stay in the game. Go up to 154 and fight Martinez or Paul or even Bradley. I also don’t want to see a Judah-JMM fight either. It isn’t going to do s*** for JMM’s legacy.”
(Attraction @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “JMM can be outboxed, as we saw from Floyd. Khan has the style to stink out the joint against JMM… what a nightmare style for JMM to deal with. If Khan had a chin, he’d be a lock in pick.”
(FrankinDallas @ BadLeftHook.com)… “Note sure if this is a win-win for Khan. If he whoops up on JMM, it will be said that he beat an old man. If he loses, he loses a lot of respect in the boxing world. It is definitely win-win for JMM…if he wins, he makes one payday and sets himself up for more; if he loses so what?”
(jbin333 @ BoxingScene.com)… “Is Marquez no longer with Golden Boy? Schaffaer is already saying once Khan wins…then judah and then mayweather…..where’s the confiidence in mosley beating floyd?….also how can judah even be mentioned as an opponent, what has he done lately? absolutely nothing!!!!! Bradley seems to get overlooked so much its sickening!!!!”
(Erik @ BoxingFanatics.com)… “I agree I dont like the direction that Khan and his team are heading. What happened to the Maidana fight? Khan appears to be pulling a Mayweather and looking for the smallest guy/easiest win possible that fans will accept.
I think Marquez would have a slight chance landing a counter but Khan is bigger and faster and should be able to stay outside and potshot for most the fight. Khan by UD.”
(tourlou82 @ BoxingScene.com)… “I doubt Marquez can win this… Not a very good fight for him… I wish he went back to 135 to defend his titles or unify…
With that said… I have no idea what logic there is behind the fact a win over Marquez then Judah should lead to Floyd. Mystery.”
(pavlikfan @ EastSideBoxing.com)… “How many ppv’s are we talking about?
Pac-Clottey, BHop-Jones, Mayweather-?, and now Marquez-Khan?!? All in the first half of 2010!
Look Marquez-Khan is a fight I’d love to see, and I’m sure it’d be very entertaining, but isn’t this reverting back to 2-3 years ago, when every fight worth anything was on PPV?
Neither of these fighters is on a PPV level right now. Khan is unknown to most of America, and JMM is coming off a horribly one-sided loss.”
(jameshepenstall @ BoxingScene.com)… “What? How do they think that beating Marquez gets them a shot at Judah? Should’nt it be the other way around? Judah first, then to Marquez. Zab Judah hasn’t done anything, hes showed alot of promise and is a very good fighter except he hasn’t beaten one single elite fighter. Marquez is the very definition of elite, the only times ive seen him struggle is againt the best two boxers in the world(Pacquiao and Mayweather). Ive got Marquez by KO in the 10th.”
(BadLeftHook @ BadLeftHook.com)… “Maybe I’m in the minority, but Khan is going to whoop Marquez worse than Mayweather. He won’t mix it up at all, and Marquez won’t get close enough to land the big shot he would need. 140 is still way over Marquez’s best weight, and his reflexes and speed aren’t going to stop fading at this point. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Khan knocks out Marquez when Marquez is trying to get inside. It was wide open for Mayweather all night, and it will be there for Khan as well.”
(solly6 @ BoxingScene.com)… “I agree marquez is the way better fighter but he is suited for 135 and below. Going against a tall fighter with reach in khan is going to be very difficult. roach will have a game plan for khan to fight on the outside using his speed and feet to stay away from an inside battle. Given all that, marquez is such a good fighter he might be able to figure khan out and test that chin of his. I hope JMM pulls it off for a 4th title. GBP shows no ****ing respect to JMM it is an embarrassment, he is their p4p best fighter.”
(The Pinoy Pikey @ BadLeftHook.com)… “This is a good fight for both of these guys. If JMM wins convincingly, he stays in the mix as an elite fighter, and if Khan wins, having a win over the great JMM is a tremendous “scalp” to have. Sure JMM did not appear to be the same fighter in his first fight above lightweight—s. feather—I really, how many fights did he have at lightweight! But, not only was it his first fight above lightweight, it was a fight at welterweight, where his opponent, as suspected by many, came in at middleweight. And it appeared that FMjr was in tremendous condition at that weight…I believe we will see more of what we’ve come to expect from JMM, in this fight, as Khan will be more accessible in terms of being hittable, and closer to a weight that is more convenient for JMM to manage, regardless of the height disadvantage.”
(-Ash- @ BoxingScene.com)… “Judah vs Khan sounds interesting. A 6 round fighter with crazy handspeed and can look like the best boxer alive for 5 rounds vs a guy with crazy handspeed, a lot of power, stamina, but has no chin.
Marquez vs Khan sounds pretty good too, I’d like to see both fights, both are winnable for Khan. Mayweather-Khan sounds like a disaster for Khan.”
(Waldo47 @ BadLeftHook.com)… “I like Marquez in this fight. He looked terrible at 147 but that was coming straight from 135, and now he only needs to go to 140, which he will be more comfortable with. Even if he is slow he only needs to land a couple shots on the counter punches and Khan is going to be in trouble. Remember Marquez is pretty good at adapting during a fight and defeating the Roach gameplan. However he is getting old and Khan is pretty fast, but I really like the wily vet in this one.”
(dnut17 @ BoxingScene.com)… “Actually I don’t think JMM will win this one Khan is hell of fast with real good developing skills hed be a big welterweight so at 140 he’s huge. JMM could probably still make 130 and look good doing so. This IS a huge obstacle a win would take him from future HOF to a legend in Mexico.”
