Posts Tagged ‘Khan’

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By Frank Warren

BRITISH boxing got another lift last week with lion-hearted performances on both sides of the pond.

First, my youngsters led the charge with stunning displays in Liverpool. Then Amir Khan capped a superb night, winning one of the fights of the year against dangerous Marcos Maidana.

The Khan fight took place in Las Vegas and impressed American audiences.

I’ve never doubted he has plenty of heart. On Saturday he showed bags of it!

What alarmed me later in the fight was how Maidana found Amir’s chin so often. You can’t have too many fights like that if you want a long career.

Talk of him facing Floyd Mayweather next needs to be knocked on the head. He must not listen to the wrong people and consider it purely for financial gain.

Amir said his next fight will be in the UK. Instead of Mayweather, I hope he takes the offer I have made to him to fight Brit Kell Brook, No 1 to Manny Pacquaio in the WBO at welterweight. It would give home fans another mouth-watering evening.

Earlier last Saturday, James DeGale put on a near-perfect display against Paul Smith to lift the British super-middle title.

I manage both and they are terrific guys but sometimes fights become natural and you have to let them get on with it. Paul will come back I have no doubt. They make them tough in Liverpool.

DeGale is more advanced at this stage of his career than any boxer I have managed or promoted and that includes Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan.

Also in Liverpool, Nathan Cleverly lifted the interim WBO light-heavy title with a hard-fought win over Nedjab Mohammedi.

The Frenchman came in at late notice and was a totally different opponent style-wise than the one Nathan prepared for.

Brook and Matt Macklin were also stunning in Liverpool.

BERNARD HOPKINS is bidding at 45 to become the oldest-ever world champion when he tackles WBC light-heavy king Jean Pascal tonight.

B-Hop isn’t the easiest on the eye but what a story if he wins.

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO’S promoters say they will hopefully give us a new date for a fight against Dereck Chisora within 30 days. Del Boy was in tip-top condition when we were told the champ had torn a muscle last week.

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By Matt Gaunt

12 - 12 - 2010

Saturday night Khanage at the Mandalay Bay Resort

There are not enough superlatives to describe the epic battle that occurred last night between WBA Light Welterweight Champion Amir Khan and WBA Interim Champion Marcos Rene Maidana. The atmosphere was electric and the crowd were fantastic. Even better when you consider that neither of the protagonists are Americans.

Vegas expected and they delivered. The promotional banners of Thunder versus Lightning did not do either Khan or Maidana justice. For once this was a fight that exceeded all expectations.

This writer had predicted a tense but one sided affair with Khan electing to box at range and look to break Maidana down around the 9th round. Nobody expected Khan to wage war with Maidana the way he did. But that wasn’t all down to Khan. Maidana had a lot to do with making this a pugilistic spectacle for fight fans around the world.

Both fighters come out of this fight with a huge amount of credit. Maidana for showing unbelievable heart in getting up from one of the best body shots you will ever see and Khan for taking everything that Maidana threw. I am convinced had there been another 30 seconds in the 1st round Maidana would have been stopped.

I had Khan 50 – 44 up (Taking 4 of the first 5 rounds – Sharing the 4th with Maidana) on account of the knockdown in round 1 and the point deduction in round 5. At this point I was convinced my prediction of a late rounds stoppage was inevitable. As Khan gave the slow footed Maidana a boxing lesson.

However teak tough Maidana had other ideas and began to press Khan from the 6th round and had considerable success in the 7th. Khan battled back in the 8th and 9th rounds using his quick hands and superior mobility.

I was thinking that my late rounds stoppage was going to be realised. But not in the way I had anticipated. Maidana tagged Khan with a huge sweeping right hand and Khan’s legs buckled. But this wasn’t the 22 year old boy that fell to Prescott. Khan refused to hold or spoil. Tucking up and when possible moving back as Maidana bombarded him power shots from either hand. In particular a vicious right uppercut found the target with amazing regularity. For the best part of 90 seconds Khan weathered the assault. With the bell ringing Khan returned to his corner on unsteady legs. At this point I had Khan up 96 – 92 with Maidana coming on like a freight train (I scored the 10th round 10 – 8 to Maidana).

Out for the 11th Khan looked tired with the scars of battle showing, blood streaming down from his nose, but his legs looked like the strength was returning. Incredibly he was digging into reserves that nobody thought he had. Getting off with crisp shots, in particularly 2 great right hands that steadied Maidana. The Vegas crowd were going wild as the fight was swinging one way then another.

Final round and Khan just needed to stay on his feet. Despite getting tagged and hurt he came back in the last 30 seconds with blurring combinations to press home the point that he had finally arrived in the big time. Securing his best career win to date.

Maidana took the final round and I had Khan up 115 – 111 in what has to be one of the fights of the year.

Official score cards all read for Khan: 114-111; 114-111 & 113-112

Post fight interviews tell you a lot and Khan who moves 24 – 1 (17 KO’s) was buoyed by the fact that he had proven to the doubting public and press that he doesn’t have a suspect chin. We know he has a good chin after this fight, but more importantly Khan now knows he has a good chin.

Maidana who is now 29 – 2 (27 KO’s) was bitterly disappointed in losing the fight and did not appear to relish a return at some point in the future. For me I am definitely a new member of the Maidana fan club. There aren’t many fighters in the game today as tough as El Chino and as limited as he may be technically. He has the heart of a lion and unbelievable determination. Oh and one final thing, don’t let anybody tell you that Maidana’s power is over rated.

I was a fan of Khans before this fight and that hasn’t changed. I’m sure that continued work with Freddie Roach will address some of the errors that Khan made and he will improve from this fight. He will always be susceptible to being hurt by decent punchers, but he now knows what it takes to come through a crisis at the highest level. Still only 24 he is going to get stronger and I am convinced that in terms of technical ability. Outside of Mayweather and Pacquiao there isn’t a man that could outbox him over 12 rounds. Give him 12 months and 3 decent opponents and he just maybe ready to take on the elite.

Khan he do it….? Maybe, just maybe.

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Khan defeats Maidana but doesn’t look like boxing’s newest star

WBA super lightweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) won a twelve round decision against WBA interim super lightweight titleholder Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs) on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Khan dropped Maidana with two body shots at the end of round one. Khan went after Maidana in round two, but the tough Maidana kept coming back. Maidana was the aggressor in round three applying heavy pressure. Maidana was deducted a point by referee Joe Cortez for throwing an elbow in round five. Maidana was relentless and was rewarded for his efforts when his uppercut caught Khan in round seven. Khan rallied in the eighth using his speed and ring movement to avoid exchanges. Maidana got to Khan in the tenth and battered him all over the ring. It was a battle of attrition in the eleventh both fighters having their moments. Maidana desperately went for the knockout in round twelve, but Khan weathered the storm. Scores were 114-111, 114-111, and 113-112.

Khan won. Just barely. Maidana came in prepared and had tons of heart, Khan got to prove that his chin is better than most gave him credit for. It was a good fight but Khan although being a naturally gifted athlete hardly looked like boxing’s newest star.

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Khan says he’s 50-50 with Pacquiao in sparring - WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan says he’s doing really well in his sparring sessions with Manny Pacquiao, and sparring him to an even standstill. It’s hard to imagine Khan being able to spar on even terms with Pacquiao. On East Side Boxing’s On the Ropes Boxing Radio, Khan says “I sparred with him [Pacquiao] after defeat two years ago. I did really well with him then, but this time I’ve done even better and it just shows how much I’ve come on since I’ve been training with Manny. It’s a 50-50 spar. You know we’re both learning. Some days I have a good day, but some days Manny has a good day.”

Trainer Freddie Roach doesn’t think Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO’s) is looking all that bad in training, saying in an article at Philstar.com, “We [Pacquiao] need a little more focus, but I think overall we’re doing okay.” Roach is still talking as if this is going to be an easy fight for Pacquiao and is predicting an 8th round knockout.

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Latest Boxing News, 3rd October - For: Derek Chisora, Wladimir Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Juan José “Goofy” Montes, Jesus Pabon, Pitalua, McCloskey, Khan, Monte Barrett, David Tua, Martinez, Williams, Andre Berto, Andriy Kotelnik, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, Freddy Hernandez

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• Derek Chisora Vs Wladimir Klitschko — Promoter Frank Warren says unbeaten British heavyweight and Commonwealth champion Derek Chisora (14-0, 9 KOs) has been offered a December 11 title shot against IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. “The money on the table is not amazing,” Warren wrote in his column in The Sun, “but Derek has told me he just wants the opportunity to prove himself. Part of the deal for the fight will be a couple of options on Del Boy if he wins.”

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• Ricky Hatton’s woes are not over, as he is hit by a sex scandal revealed in the British tabloid the Mirror. The Sunday Mirror published an exclusive with Hatton’s mistress Emma Bowe.

Shamed boxer Ricky Hatton cheated on his devoted fiancée by embarking on a passionate 11-month affair with a female fighter – after she asked him for his autograph.

The former world champion went behind the back of his loyal bride-to-be Jennifer Dooley and jumped into bed with blonde Emma Bowe during a string of hotel sex sessions.

In their most recent meeting, just weeks ago, “Hitman” Hatton snorted lines of cocaine then slept with Emma at a hotel a stone’s throw from the £3million mansion he shares with his fiancée – which they’ve named “Heartbreak Hotel. (Sunday Mirror)

Click here to read the rest of the story in the Sunday Mirror

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• Mexican super flyweight Juan José “Goofy” Montes (19-1, 12 KOs) won a five round technical decision over Filipino Silvester Lopez (14-3-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night in an important WBC 112lb eliminator by technical decision at the Olympic Coliseum at the University of Guadalajara. The bout was sent to the judges when Montes was unable to continue due to a cut on his right eyebrow caused by a headbutt from Lopez in the second round. All three scorecards favored the Mexican by identical scores of 48-45.

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• Jesus Pabon Vs Antonio Pitalua — After a 5 month absence boxing will return to the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in Miami, Florida on October 22. In the main event, WBO Latin welterweight champion Jesus Pabon of Carolina, Puerto Rico will make the first defense of his title when he meets his toughest opponent so far in hard-punching veteran Antonio Pitalua of Mexico City, Mexico in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds with Pabon’s Title at stake.

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• McCloskey wants Khan — After winning the Euro title on Saturday night, McCloskey feels that he’s ready for the world and WBA champion Amir Khan is at the top of his hit list. — “What’s the next move after becoming European champion? It’s obviously the world. Amir Khan is one of the big names out there - he’s English, I’m Irish, it’d be a great fight for this part of the world. Let’s get it on,” McCloskey said.

• Monte Barrett And David Tua Re-match — This is the word according to The New Zealand Herald web site, who have a report saying Tua, after engaging in a tune-up bout that will end his contract with Maori T.V, will then face Barrett next year. The fight will be held in New Zealand.

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• Martinezvs Williams II - On Saturday, November 20, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez will defend his title against Paul “The Punisher” Williams in a rematch of their December 5, 2023 slugfest which had both fighters knocked down in round one and Williams winning by majority decision after twelve back-and-forth rounds.

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• Andre Berto Vs Freddy Hernandez — WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KO’s) will be fighting number #11 WBC ranked welterweight contender Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KO’s) on the undercard of the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis card next month on November 27th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegs, Nevada.

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• Andriy Kotelnik Vs “Vicious” Victor Ortiz — A bout between the Ukrainian-born former WBA junior welterweight titlist Andriy Kotelnik and southpaw contender “Vicious” Victor Ortiz of Oxnard, Calif., is on the undercard of a Dec. 11 main event between WBA king Amir khan of England and WBA interim champ Marcos Rene Maidana of Argentina.

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Promoter Frank Warren thinks Golden Boy Promotions is crazy to match Amir Khan with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Warren had promoted Khan for his entire carreer before the Bolton star left him for Golden Boy earlier this year.

“Talk of Amir Khan fighting Floyd Mayweather is crazy. Khan is making a name at light-welterweight but it is a good division and he has not proved he is number one yet. To fight Mayweather he might have to go to light middleweight, which would put him at a severe disadvantage. Khan’s had only five fights since he lost to Breidis Prescott at lightweight and needs more before giving weight away to Floyd,” Warren said.

Khan must first defeat Marcos Maidana on December 11 - when he defends his WBA junior welterweight title.

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Amir Khan on Ricky Hatton – Decision of the “British Boxing Board of Control” too harsh. — During a Thursday hearing, the BBBoC stripped Hatton of his license to box and his license as a boxing manager.

The BBBoC allowed him to keep his license as a promoter. Hatton runs regular shows in the UK with his Hatton Promotions company. Hatton was punished for the recent video which showed him snorting several lines of cocaine. The Manchester fighter has since entered a rehab to clean up his life.

Khan speaking to ESPN UK.said ”I bet there are footballers and cricketers who have done the same silly things, made the same mistakes as Ricky but they are still playing their sports,” - “It all seems very harsh and it makes the situation around Ricky look 100 times worse than it is. It’s a real shame what happened and I am 100 percent behind him.”

“He knows he has done wrong, the likes of Ricky and Joe Calzaghe know they have done wrong. After a few drinks we might all do stupid things” said Khan.

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Khan and Maidana — Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that the fight between junior welterweight champion Amir Khan and interim champion Maidana is a done deal for December 11 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“I got a call from Amir Khan that Khan-Maidana is done,” said Schaefer, who said the call came during the final news conference for Mosley-Mora on Wednesday. “It looks like it’s going to be at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.”

Schaefer said the accord means a purse bid will not be necessary.

“We are going to notify the WBA the fighters have agreed to the fight,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer said both sides had to compromise.

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Marcos Maidana complains

WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KO’s) sent a letter to the World Boxing Association in an effort to have them make him the mandatory challenger for WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s). Maidana, if successful with his letter, will then be able to force Khan to fight him or else he’ll be stripped of his WBA title by the WBA.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 8, 2024

Dr. Gilberto Mendoza
WBA President
Mr. Gilberto Jesús Mendoza
WBA Executive Vice-President
Vía e-mail

Dear Dr. and Mr. Mendoza,

Trust this letter finds you and your families very well.

The reason I am contacting you guys is to request the World Boxing Association (WBA) to ratify my status of mandatory challenger of the current WBA Super Lightweight Regular champion, Amir Khan, as I am the current WBA Super Lightweight Interim champion.

I make this request in the light that Mr. Khan has systematically refused to fight with me for the last 10 months, even though he was well aware of his obligation of facing the Interim champion. And now, apparently he is questioning such obligation, so I would like the WBA to remind him.

In fact, I have been as flexible and patient as possible during this period of time, as Mr. Khan, his team and trainer Freddie Roach have always cited different excuses not to fight me. On the contrary, I make it clear that I have been always willing to face Mr. Khan, who has made false statements on the media mentioning otherwise.

Eventually, I got tired of this situation in which I had to read surprinsing statements on the news where Mr. Khan himself and his team tried to confuse the boxing fans and media by saying a bunch of lies, including an alleged offer that they made to me to fight last July, which in reality never existed, whatsoever.

If Mr. Khan does not want to fight me, he must say it loud and clear in public and give away the portion of the title he carries and I should be appointed the WBA absolute Super Lightweight champion.

Therefore, I ratify my willingness of facing Mr. Khan before the end 2010.

Many thanks for your kind attention,

Best wishes,
Marcos René Maidana

CC

Richard Schaefer – Golden Boy Promotions
Eric Gomez – Golden Boy Promotions

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