Amir Khan and Malignaggi bout is confirmed for May 15th
World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) says that his May 15th bout against former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) is official at the Madison Square Garden, in New York, New York. In his Twitter page, the 22-year-old Khan says “Fights been confirmed for May 15th MSG against Malignaggi. Training starts from 6th March in LA. Want all my followers to follow me to NY.” This is marvelous news if you’re keen on a Khan-Malignaggi bout.
Although it is somewhat of a disappointment if you were hoping that Khan would face WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana or 36-year-old WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Either of those fights would have been much tougher fights for the 23-year-old Khan, mainly because Marquez and Maidana hit hard enough to stun or knockout Khan if they catch him with a good shot.
In the case of Maidana, he would be a constant threat for Khan for as long as the fight lasts, because even a glancing blow from the hard-hitting Maidana might be enough to sent Khan down for the count. However, Khan’s promoters Golden Boy Promotions don’t want to put Khan in with Maidana just yet, and are hoping to build up both fighters for a fighter perhaps in 2011 if both fighters continue to win.
There’s a good chance, however, that Khan and Maidana might never fight. Maidana is matched especially tough in his next fight compared to Khan, as he’s facing the unbeaten Victor Cayo on March 27th. Cayo (24-0, 16 KO’s) could outbox Maidana unless Marcos can break him down and take him out. If Cayo beats Maidana, he would be doing a huge favor for Khan, because Amir matches up a lot better against the crafty light hitting Cayo than he does against the hard hitting Maidana.
Khan has been skillfully matched up since being destroyed by knockout artist Breidis Prescott in 2008. In his last four fights – all of which Khan has won – he’s been matched up with soft punchers that post little threat to him. Khan picked up the WBA title against Andriy Kotelnik in July 2009.
Again, it was great match-making by putting Khan in with the light hitting Kotelnik rather than testing Khan against light welterweight champions Juan Urango and Timothy Bradley, both which would have likely knocked Khan out again. And then recently, instead of facing a mandatory fight against the knockout artist Maidana, Khan has been steered into a fight against Malignaggi, who poses little threat to Khan’s weak chin due to Malignaggi’s nonexistent power.
This will be Khan’s debut fight in the United States after having spent his entire career fighting in the UK. With any luck, Khan will look great against the 29-year-old Malignaggi and start the long process of winning over the casual boxing fans who only a scant knowledge about the sport.
They obviously will probably be impressed with Khan if he opens up his offense and shows his lightning quick combinations. Khan will have to get the go ahead to open up with his offense from his trainer Freddie Roach, who has bottled up Khan’s once impressive offensive skills since he started training the English fighter to keep him from getting hit so much.
World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) says that his May 15th bout against former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) is official at the Madison Square Garden, in New York, New York. In his Twitter page, the 22-year-old Khan says “Fights been confirmed for May 15th MSG against Malignaggi. Training starts from 6th March in LA. Want all my followers to follow me to NY.” This is marvelous news if you’re keen on a Khan-Malignaggi bout.
Although it is somewhat of a disappointment if you were hoping that Khan would face WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana or 36-year-old WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Either of those fights would have been much tougher fights for the 23-year-old Khan, mainly because Marquez and Maidana hit hard enough to stun or knockout Khan if they catch him with a good shot.
In the case of Maidana, he would be a constant threat for Khan for as long as the fight lasts, because even a glancing blow from the hard-hitting Maidana might be enough to sent Khan down for the count. However, Khan’s promoters Golden Boy Promotions don’t want to put Khan in with Maidana just yet, and are hoping to build up both fighters for a fighter perhaps in 2011 if both fighters continue to win.
There’s a good chance, however, that Khan and Maidana might never fight. Maidana is matched especially tough in his next fight compared to Khan, as he’s facing the unbeaten Victor Cayo on March 27th. Cayo (24-0, 16 KO’s) could outbox Maidana unless Marcos can break him down and take him out. If Cayo beats Maidana, he would be doing a huge favor for Khan, because Amir matches up a lot better against the crafty light hitting Cayo than he does against the hard hitting Maidana.
Khan has been skillfully matched up since being destroyed by knockout artist Breidis Prescott in 2008. In his last four fights – all of which Khan has won – he’s been matched up with soft punchers that post little threat to him. Khan picked up the WBA title against Andriy Kotelnik in July 2009.
Again, it was great match-making by putting Khan in with the light hitting Kotelnik rather than testing Khan against light welterweight champions Juan Urango and Timothy Bradley, both which would have likely knocked Khan out again. And then recently, instead of facing a mandatory fight against the knockout artist Maidana, Khan has been steered into a fight against Malignaggi, who poses little threat to Khan’s weak chin due to Malignaggi’s nonexistent power.
This will be Khan’s debut fight in the United States after having spent his entire career fighting in the UK. With any luck, Khan will look great against the 29-year-old Malignaggi and start the long process of winning over the casual boxing fans who only a scant knowledge about the sport.
They obviously will probably be impressed with Khan if he opens up his offense and shows his lightning quick combinations. Khan will have to get the go ahead to open up with his offense from his trainer Freddie Roach, who has bottled up Khan’s once impressive offensive skills since he started training the English fighter to keep him from getting hit so much.