Amir Khan wants Diaz or Marquez
For most boxers going to hospital is part of the job and normally the result of something like a sharp overhand right.
For WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan however, a recent trip to the medical centre was a result of a suspected bout of malaria after he returned from a visit to South Africa.
However the mosquito joins the list with Paulie Malignaggi, Andriy Kotelnik and Marco Antonio Barrera in failing to stop the Bolton fighter, who was declared fit and well and released after a couple of days.
Khan will now travel to Las Vegas to take in the second coming together of Juan Diaz v Juan Manuel Marquez. It is thought that “King Khan” is on scouting duty and is said to be interested in taking on the winner of this match-up as his next opponent, having successfully defended his title against Malignaggi two months ago.
In recent weeks Khan has been linked with the likes of Joel Casamayor, Marcos Maidana, Juan Urango and Victor Ortiz and should be announcing who his next opponent is shortly. The WBA champion had talked about a fight at the end of July before he starts observing Ramadan, but didn’t manage to sort one out in time, so realistically his next bout should be in or around September or October.
Having dismantled Malignaggi with ease and wowing the Americans as well, Khan must now raise the bar further in terms of the quality of his opposition. There have been criticisms from boxing fans in some quarters that he’s avoiding fighting decent contenders, but it would seem he’s still learning his trade under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and has a long term strategy. He’s only 23 now and still has a the lion’s share of his career in front of him.
The criticism is probably a bit harsh, at the time he fought Dmitry Salita, the American was an unbeaten prospect and most suspected Malignaggi would present a sterner challenge, but Khan brushed them both aside with ease and his lightning-fast hand speed.
Although to keep in touch with the rest of this highly competitive division Khan does need to take on some big challenges. Someone like Ortiz who is the same age and is out fighting the like of Maidana and Nate Campbell is taking risks and is becoming a better and more respected fighter for it.
Maidana is Khan’s mandatory challenger for his belt, but with his KO record of 27 in his 28 wins, it’s no surprise that Khan, whose defence still has question marks, doesn’t want to fight the hard hitter yet. The Englishman is aware that another defeat will send him down the rankings and undo all his hard work so far, so he is just making sure he doesn’t make another error like he did with Breidis Prescott, which is 54 seconds he would probably wish to forget.
With disappointments in Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather and David Haye v a Klitschko boxing fans are desperate for big fights, hence the collective will to get Khan in the ring with a top dog. However the Olympic silver medallist has always been one to think things through and take one step at a time so it’s unlikely Khan will be looking at one of the light-welterweight title holders like Timothy Bradley Jnr right now, but that day will come and may not even be that far away.
In the meantime both Diaz and Marquez would represent a step up in quality. “Baby Bull” is known for having some truly epic fights and will test Khan with his brawn, while the wily old Marquez is similarly a tough-cookie fighter and despite being 36 would be by far the sternest test for Khan yet.
“Dinamita” has been in the ring with some truly outstanding pugilists; he knows all the old tricks and is still top class even at his veteran age. He showed in his ninth-round KO win against Diaz in their last meeting that he still has that gritty, powerful quality and the fact he has taken both Mayweather and Pacquiao the distance in the last two years proves his still one of the best around and would be a huge challenge for Khan. There would be no arguing that King Khan would be taking on a top level opponent there.
After beating “Magic Man”, Khan has said he would like to face Maidana while Bradley Jnr takes on Devon Alexander and the two winners can face off in an undisputed champion’s tournament. This is a fantastic prospect for fight fans everywhere and if it can be put into action within the next year or two it will be a great thing for boxing in general. But that probably won’t come about until Khan has had two or three more fights against top ranking opponents.
Whether its Maidana, Bradley Jnr, Casamayor, Diaz or Marquez that Khan faces next, things just go from strength to strength for one of boxing’s current golden boys.
Malaria cannot stop him but Khan fever might just be what boxing needs right now.
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