Boxing Special Report: Amir Khan- The boy who became king (Part 1)
Marcos Maidana was the undefeated gladiator in the world of boxing. His record boasted 29 wins, 27 of which were knockouts. Whereas the 24 year old Khan during had lost once, that too knocked out in the first few rounds by Breidis Prescott.
The match against Maidana was a battle of nerves. It was a match that was to test the fighter Khan had evolved into since his knockout against Prescott. It was a fight that was to decide if Khan was truly the King of the ring rather than a mere pretender to the ultimate throne.
His trip to America, his fight with Maidana was Khan’s attempt to establish himself as a boxing superstar, it was to challenge the status quo, a fight to silence the critics, a test of whether he had what it takes to become the elite in the sport.
It was without a doubt, Amir Khan’s biggest test to date in his young and budding career.
Could this have been the fight of the year?
Amir Khan’s reputation was certainly enhanced in one of the most brutal battles for supremacy in a nerve wrecking, third successful defence of his light Welterweight belt of the World Boxing association.
Khan did have his fair share of critics, there were those sceptics, who said that he did not have a cast iron chin. However, following the match one thing was ascertained, that the boy certainly had a pair of brass balls.
Criticism and carping is filling comment boards, where there are those who say that Khan was vulnerable that he took the beating of his lifetime in the 10th round. However, despite the bloody nose and bruises, he did manage to hold his head in the 11th and the 12th round of the match.
If truth be told, Maidana did get the better of him in the 10th round as King Khan got blistered by the ‘wild bomber’ Maidana. Maidana did have a granite chin. He barely took a step backwards.
However it was the ferocity and speed of Khan that eventually nullified the ‘Wild bombers’ fits of power and aggression. A sickening left blow to the liver in the first few rounds to unnerve the formidable Maidana was testament to his edge in speed and ring-craft.
Khan does not have any glaring warts in his arsenal but his vulnerable chin earned him some criticism. Coming out of the 10th round with a bloody nose, Khan fought with purpose and conviction despite absorbing his fair share of punishment at the hands of the formidable Maidana, who had the potential to send ‘Pride of Bolton’ to q***r Street with a string of incredibly powerful blows.
However, that was not to be as he managed to connect only 20 percent of his punches compared to the 45 percent of King Khan. Out of the 603 punches attempted, Khan managed to land 273 of those on Maidana while the Wild bomber could only connect 156 of 767 shots.
It would be unfair for people to compare Khan to the likes of Pacquiao, for Khan is still evolving as a boxer, there is still room for improvement. Khan has never compared him to Pacquiao’s supreme level, or that he can be compared to the likes of Mayweather.
However he does admit that he has learnt a lot from being around the Pac Man and he does aim to fight Mayweather himself in the near future.
He is an ambitious boxer, what’s wrong with ambition?
Khan turned 24, this December, while Pacquiao turned 32. There is much progress to be made and improvements to work on.
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