by James Slater – Early on in his pro career Amir Khan was matched with a number of fighters who had very low KO percentages and even a few men who had no KO wins at all. Did Khan’s team know something we did not with regards to his ability – or lack thereof – to take a good shot upstairs?
The warning signs have since flashed twice. Back in July of last year, Khan was sent to the canvas by the relatively light-punching Willie Limond and then again, last night, the prospect was sent reeling by the known puncher, but faded force, that is Michael Gomez. Is there the possibility Khan is, at least a little bit – chinny?
Some fans will bellow a definitive “Yes!” to such a question, whereas others will likely say “No, give the kid a break, he’s still learning.” This writer finds himself somewhere in the middle. Yes, Khan is still very young and is still making adjustments to the pro game. And his two hurtful trips to the floor may actually do him good in the long run. Much in the same way a certain fighter then known as Cassius Clay, who was thought to have a suspect chin in his early – pre-Muhammad Ali – days, learnt from his knockdowns in early bouts. And how crazy do the accusations of Ali having a bad chin sound now, when we saw how tough and durable Ali proved himself to be? I’m not saying Khan will go on to be as hardened and as great as Ali, but it is perhaps a little early to call him a chinless wonder.
Then again, for a fighter who is readily claiming he is more than ready for a world title fight right now, Khan and his trips to the mat are bound to attract some offence from the critics. Khan cannot have it both ways – either he is a kid who is still learning and deserves a break, or he is a world class fighter and is therefore accountable to criticism for the perceived shortcomings regarding his chin.
Some fans have gone as far as saying Khan is a fighter who will be badly exposed if and when he gets in there with a proven great such as Manny Pacquaio or Joel Casamayor. Maybe. But on the other hand, even if Khan does have a shaky chin and the two knockdowns were not mere blips along the road to greatness, he may still become a dominant world champion. There have been great fighters in the past who had poor chins, after all.
Last night was something of a major shock, without a doubt. Going down against the quite worn (but, as he proved, still full of heart) Michael Gomez was never part of the pre-fight plan. The alarm bells definitely rang again, but for the time being Khan’s fans may choose not to listen to them.