Amir Khan (28-3, 19 KO’s) says his performance against Luis Collazo (35-5, 18 KO’s) on May 3d will “steal the show” on the Floyd Mayweather – Marcos Maidana card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Khan expects to steal the thunder from the headline fight between Mayweather and Maidana by really shining against the 32-year-old Collazo. That may be.
Khan has a guy that he can certainly do that against, as long as he’s careful and doesn’t run into any of Collazo’s right hooks the way that Victor Ortiz did in his 2nd round knockout loss to him last January.
Khan shouldn’t be thinking too much about trying to impress, because for him to impress he’s going to need to take some big shots from Collazo. Instead of trying to impressive, Khan should focus on fighting defensively and getting the win anyway he can. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has already said that the winner of the Khan-Collazo fight has a good chance of getting a bout against Mayweather.
What that means is that Khan will likely get the Mayweather fight even if he squeaks by with a decision like he did in his last bout against Julio Diaz last year. A lot of people thought Khan lost that fight, but the judges in London had Khan winning.
Mayweather is down to his last three fights of his career after the Maidana fight, so he’s not going to make a big deal if Khan barely beats Collazo. As long as he beats him, he’s probably got the fight.
Khan isn’t facing a lethal welterweight like Keith Thurman. Golden Boy aren’t even matching him against Adrien Broner. You would think that Khan should at least have to beat someone like Broner to get a fight against Mayweather, but that’s not the case.
“I didn’t take time off,” Khan said at their conference call today. “I’ve been training hard and there will be no excuses, I will be ready. I know that Andre Berto fought Luis Collazo but at the end of the day it’s me in the ring. I’ll do my homework. Styles make fights in boxing, my fight vs Luis Collazo will be very exciting and very fun to watch! When Collazo stopped Victor Ortiz, he showed he has got power, speed and movement, it’s going to be a great fight. I’m going to put on a great performance and it’s going to be a great fight for the crowd to watch.”
