Khan Cracks Ring Rankings

JJay18y ago

Amir Khan has broken into the prestigious Ring Magazine's lightweight ratings. The Commonwealth lightweight king, already ranked six in the WBO and nine by the WBC, destroyed former champion Graham Earl earlier this month in a stunning 72 seconds to earn his number eight position in the 'Bible of Boxing'. The 21-year-old is one place in front of Zahir Raheem, who holds a win over Mexican great Erik Morales, and is just below potential opponent Yuri Romanov, the European champion. At six is Australian warrior Michael Katsidis, the interim WBO world champion, who defeated Earl in an all-out war at the beginning of the year, while Ring Champion is Joel Casamayor. Khan, who headlines the ExCel London on February 2, said: "This year has probably been the best of my career and I'm really looking forward to 2008. "It's great to be recognised by the highly respected Ring Magazine and I'm looking to climb their ratings with each performance and eventually get one of those great Ring Belts that Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton have. "My skill, strength and power is improving with every fight and I believe that I can beat any of those guys in the division," "I've had a great ending to the year with the Earl victory, I'm unbeaten in 15 fights and the Commonwealth champion, I'm ranked in the top 10 of the WBO and WBC and now the Ring Magazine and I'm really excited by what next year holds for me."

Comments (10)

squealpiggy

The ring lost credibility with its lightweight rankings when its "champion" was handed a gift after suffering a near shutout. Any credibility it had left has now well and truly gone to the dogs with the addition of this chump. You don't think that the Ring would lose credibility if it started stripping its titles off champions just because it doesn't agree with the decision?

18y ago

celt80

I'm not sold on him yet but 72 seconds against earl was impressive. I dont think thaxton will do much better. Lets wait and see until after he fights for the european title, hopefully someone can really test his beard to see if he is packing china. He's not ready for a world title not for at least a year or 10 meaningful fights

18y ago

DURAN_IS_GOD

Kahn is perhaps the most single over rated fighter EVER. The kid can kinda punch, thats about it. He stands with his feet about 14 feet apart and flat footed, doesn't move to well, doesn't have the greatest defense. He is like Naseem Hamed without the natural athletic ability. He is a prime example of what Frank Warren does best. Build fighters into names against nobody, then cash out on them in a big fight. not to mention his whiskers aint the best, willie limond had him in a world of trouble and he couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag

18y ago

feedthegoat

I know, I was just debating it with you in my own way. anorak why to do you Hatton speaking like hes from yorkshire in your sig

18y ago

Piggu

The ring lost credibility with its lightweight rankings when its "champion" was handed a gift after suffering a near shutout. Any credibility it had left has now well and truly gone to the dogs with the addition of this chump. It follows the linear rules. I don't like it any more than you do, but that's how it goes. The best fighter in the division isn't always the champion.

18y ago

Jim_Jeffries

I know that, slag. But the Diaz's aren't invincible, no? I'm not saying Khan WOULD beat them, but he's got more chance than Alex Arthur saying he can't wait to get a shot at JMM, Manny Pac or Guzman. Khan has absolutely no chance against Juan Diaz, at least not in the near future.

18y ago

Tuggers1986

I want Khan to fight Katsidis and get KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT!

18y ago

PRboxingfan

It took Ricky 38 fights before fighting for a major belt (not the WBU belt), I'm glad to see that Amir is interested in accomplishing this earlier in his career. I hope he steps it up in 2008 and goes for a title in 09. The kid has promise but he's still a bit green.

18y ago

THe_TRiNiTY

I know that, slag. But the Diaz's aren't invincible, no? I'm not saying Khan WOULD beat them, but he's got more chance than Alex Arthur saying he can't wait to get a shot at JMM, Manny Pac or Guzman. I was referring to the division not being that deep. It's decent. I don't know about him beating any of them, at this point.

18y ago

THe_TRiNiTY

It seems a high placement, but then it's not a very deep division, is it? I always have doubts about Khan getting a "world" title, but it's not impossible in that line up. It actually has Diaz, Diaz, Diaz......... Lol. And Guzman and Soto are moving up.. For sure Soto, anyway. Katsidis. Santa Cruz ain't a shit bag, either. Raheem is boring, but trouble for anyone.

18y ago