Growing up watching Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr., Pernell Whitaker, and a whole host of other great fighters, it is truly agonizing to watch the sport of boxing become a spectacle; not unlike “Dancing with the Stars”. Fighters avoiding their toughest foes and boxing promoters creating a circus-like atmosphere just to boost pay-per-view sales.
Love him or hate him, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has set the tone for the new breed of fast-talking, cocky, self-promoting fighters. What separates Mayweather from most of his emulating peers is a tremendous skill set and dedication to his craft. Many of today’s young boxing stars lack the skill set to match their boastful banter.
This was on full display when Adrien Broner was undressed by Marcos Maidana during their welterweight match-up in 2013. Adrien Broner, who admittedly admires Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and is a fervent imitator of Mayweather’s style, was completely man-handled by the less skilled Maidaina.
In recent months the boxing world has had to endure the constant clamoring from Amir Khan in demanding a fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Khan has been voicing his desire to fight Mayweather prior to Mayweather’s first fight with Marcos Maidana in 2014. His self-promotion has been tireless, especially since he defeated Devon Alexander decisively earlier this month. Mayweather, on the other hand, seems to be seeking a super fight with welterweight rival Manny Pacquiao. A fight most feel will eclipse the record for pay-per-view sales, also set by Mayweather in his fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2013. For Mayweather, fighting Amir Khan offers no real upside. For Khan, fighting Mayweather is the biggest upside in the sport of boxing.
Most, if not all boxing fans, and even casual observers of the sport, want the “superfight” to occur between Mayweather and Pacquiao. However, for obvious reasons, Amir Khan feels as though he deserves a shot at Mayweather’s crown, even more than the legendary Manny Pacquiao. This is the epitome of “delusions of grandeur”. Khan, his trainer Vigil Hill and promoter Oscar De La Hoya, have stated multiple times that Khan has the “style” to beat Mayweather and give him fits in the ring. His combination of length, speed and combination punching, supposedly is the answer to the riddle of how to defeat Mayweather.
If Amir Khan had beaten at least one A level welterweight, just maybe his claim to supersede Manny Pacquiao in the quest for Mayweather’s crown would not be as ludicrous. In this writer’s opinion, Khan should be about fourth or fifth on the depth chart of fighters to face Mayweather next. 1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Miguel Cotto (rematch) 3. Danny Garcia, 4 or 5, Tim Bradley or Amir Khan. Khan would probably lose to all of the above listed fighters in brutal fashion as he did against Danny Garcia. Khan would garner the respect he is seeking in the boxing world much more by having the heart to call out Danny Garcia for a rematch first, before uttering such blasphemy as “deserving” a fight with current pound for pound king, Money Mayweather. Khan fighting Kell Brook, Keith Thurman or Shawn Porter is much more reasonable, albeit tough feat, considering Khan’s glass jaw and timidity. Amir Khan performed subpar against an aged veteran in his match against Luis Collazo earlier this year. When Collazo engaged Khan, Khan would hold excessively to avoid being hit. This was a shell of Collazo that Amir fought. Collazo would’ve plastered Khan in his prime. Devon Alexander is a B level fighter, who much like Khan, avoids hard exchanges. To mention defeating Alexander as a legitimate claim to be Mayweather’s next opponent over Manny Pacquiao is beyond pathetic.
To be the boss, you have to pay the cost as the old saying goes. Amir Khan has not earned the right to face the best fighter in the world. He is a self-promoting hype machine attempting to pull the ultimate Khan job! Manny Pacquiao has earned the right to fight Mayweather years ago. This is the fight the world wants and deserves. Do us a favor Khan, go earn a legitimate win over an A list welterweight and then you can talk and be heard. Happy New Year to all and may 2015 bring us the “Superfight”.
Questions/Comments: yero_m@yahoo.com
