Maidana responds to Khan, calls him a hypocrite
Saturday night in Buenos Aires, his native Argentina, WBA interim junior welterweight titlist Marcos Rene Maidana has a chance to prove himself. He’ll take on former world titlist DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley for a bout in which the winner is expected to challenge WBA champion, Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs).
Both fighters are coming off spectacular knockout wins. Corley (37-13, 22 KOs) put Damian Fuller out in the fourth round last month, a bout that did much to counter his loss before that to Freddy Hernandez. Maidana, nine years younger than Corley, is coming off his sixth round knockout of then undefeated Victor Cayo.
Recently Maidana spoke to FanHouse, the popular boxing website, to discuss prospects if he wins the bout (he’s a heavy favourite). There’s been a lot of talk between him and Khan, and a bout between the two would allow one man to unify the WBA title.
When asked how badly he wants to fight Khan, Maidana said: “I really want to face Amir Khan, not only because I want him, but he has the other portion of the WBA title. And I want to be the absolute champion. I don't want to be called the interim champion any longer.”
Maidana was quick to suggest that a challenge with Khan wouldn’t just be about business and winning a title, it would be about resolving personal qualms. “Amir Khan is a hypocrite,” Maidana said. “Because he says one thing in front of the camera [...] that's when he'll say that he badly wants to face Marcos Rene Maidana. But then when it comes to being behind closed doors and when he's talking to our promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, he says that he wants to stay away from Marcos Rene Maidana.”
The accuracy of Maidana’s comments are hard to verify, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Khan or his team did ask to stay away from Maidana. The latter has proven himself at the top of the junior welterweight division, by knocking out everyone he’s entered the ring with save one (in 28 wins, Maidana has 27 knockouts). His sole loss came at the hands of Andriy Kotelnik, who managed to defeat Maidana on points for the WBA title last year.
“I respect every opponent that I face,” Maidana said, “because I learned a lesson when I fought Andriy Kotelnik. I kind of underestimated him. I was overconfident. I learned a lesson that I will not be overconfident ever again.”
On Wednesday Amir Khan spoke to the press and said that he would “shut Maidana up” in a bout, and then take on current WBO titlist Timothy Bradley. If a fight is scheduled in the near future between Bradley, widely considered the best in the division, and WBC titlist Devon Alexander, the winner is expected to challenge the winner of Maidana-Khan.
As well, Khan said that the only possible setback he could see in fighting Maidana was a financial one, if Maidana’s team asked for too much money or “overpriced” him for the fight. Khan said that talks thus far had been unsuccessful for precisely that reason. In response, Maidana said Khan’s news reporting was just another “lie,” since “just yesterday myself and my team met with Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions [...] but the money was never discussed at all.”
In a match between the two one can bet that Maidana will appear the more disciplined fighter. While he is more of a power-puncher than a boxer technician, his in-the-ring discipline is very high. Khan, on the other hand, is the more showy fighter, who relies on superior technical skills and natural talents.
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