Primetime released the last of their three part mini-documentary series based on Amir Khan’s preparations for his July 23rd unification bout this morning. Similarly to HBO’s 24/7 series, ‘The Road to Vegas’ offers an interesting insight into the young champion’s thoughts on his opponent, the light welterweight division as a whole and his plans for the future.
Beginning with upcoming opponent Zab Judah, Khan said:
“Zab Judah’s a guy who not many people want to fight because he’s very very awkward and makes a lot of fighters look bad”
“He called me out on twitter, and there are a lot of fights that are made on twitter, its funny because Paulie Malignaggi was one fight that was made on there and the Zab Judah fight”
(*Incidentally if twitter is the best way to land a fight with Khan, someone had better let Breidis Prescott know, who has talked about nothing else than how much he wants a rematch since beating Khan him back in 2008.)
“Hopefully get this guy out of the way and then maybe move up to 147lbs where there are more challenges out there for me because I really know that after this fight, there will be no-one else for me to fight in this division”
The obvious name that Khan didn’t mention is WBC/WBO champion Tim Bradley who due to promotional issues declined a fight with Khan prior to Judah being named as an opponent.
The fact that the Bradley fight never materialized obviously still rankles with Khan. Bradley though who appears to be in the process of changing promoters and has a big money guarantee from HBO for his next fight regardless of opponent, so can hardly be blamed for having put a showdown with Khan off for the time being.
Another quote that stood out in particular from Khan was the following:
“I’m the only guy in this division fighting the best out there”
“I fought Maidana and beat him, fought McCloskey beat him, wanted to fight Bradley, he didn’t want to take the fight”
“There were talks of having a rematch with Maidana but what do I gain from that fight because I’ve already beaten him”
Certainly Khan has attempted to fight the best in the division in targeting Bradley and having beaten Maidana. To claim that the likes of Devon Alexander, Bradley or indeed Maidana aren’t fighting the best available opponents however seems a little wide of the mark.
Also if Khan does stay in the junior welterweight division for the time being, a rematch with Maidana could be something he has little choice in if he wants to keep at least his current title.
The WBA recently elevated Khan to the status of super champion, and Maidana takes on Robert Guerrero for the regular title in August. Should currently interim champion Maidana win, he will almost certainly begin pushing for a rematch with Khan, who beat him via close decision last year.
Dean Addams, Pitt: “Khan is talking about retirement already when he can fight for another 8 or 10 years easy, not a good sign”
