By Scott Gilfoid: from boxingnews
World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s) will be facing his biggest threat since 2008 when he takes on knockout artist Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KO’s) on December 11th. In a lot of ways, this fight reminds me a lot of the Enzo Maccarinelli vs. Alexander Frenkel bout last Saturday night.
Khan, 23, comes into the Maidana bout with a fragile chin and will be in constant danger of being knocked out by the hard hitting Maidana for as long as this fight lasts. Khan was knocked out the last time he fought a hard puncher two years ago against Breidis Prescott in a 1st round knockout loss. Since that fight, Khan hasn’t faced any knockout threats, as he’s been put in with fighters that can’t crack an egg. This has allowed Khan to flourish and look good. In contrast, Maccarinelli didn’t shy away from facing big punchers after being knocked out by David Haye in 2008. Maccarinelli then went up against big punchers in Ola Afolabi, Denis Lebedev and Alexander Frenkel, and was knocked out by each of them.
I have a feeling that Khan would have been knocked out just as many times had he continued to face knockout threats after the loss to Prescott. But on December 11th, I see Khan suffering his next brutal knockout against Maidana. It’s not that I don’t think that Khan has great boxing skills. He’s an excellent fighter with nice hand speed and decent power. The problem is he doesn’t have a chin to go along with it, and as hard as Maidana hits, he’s probably going to break Khan into a million pieces when he connects to Khan’s chin at some point in the fight. You can’t beat a fighter like Maidana by running around the ring for 12 rounds and never getting hit.
In his controversial loss to Andriy Kotelnik in 2009, the Ukrainian fighter looked like he had walked through a meat grinder by the end of the fight. Both lips were busted, his nose looking broken, his face red and swollen everywhere. Kotelnik got the win, but the punishment he took in that fight was brutal. And to top it off, Kotelnik won what many boxing fans felt was a hometown decision. But I don’t think Khan can take the kind of punishment that Kotelnik absorbed in his fight with Maidana. I don’t see Khan as having the chin to be able to stand up to that kind of punishment without dropping for the 10 count. Kotelnik looked like he had been run over by a truck, and that was with him running from Maidana for 12 rounds. Can you imagine what Kotelnik would have looked like had he stood and traded with Maidana?
Hitman's Take:
Here is the video of rounds 11 and 12 of the Maidana-Kotelnik fight.
For those who think Maidana can be simply outboxed consider that this is the same Kotelnik who for the most part completely outboxed Devon Alexander yet somehow ended up coming out of the Maidana fight looking like he had been in a car accident.
As this author said Kotelnik's nose looks busted, both lips busted, both eyes swollen. You can see it in this video at 9:13
And this is a man who is a far superior boxer to Maidana and an excellent defensive fighter, yet he could not keep Maidana at bay.
Thankfully for Kotelnik he is tough as nails and has a world class chin that carried him until the end where the judges saved him.
Khan won't be so lucky.
Maidana did crack it, he just could never finish him because Amir Khan did a good job of covering up, clinching, and staying away. Props to both fighters, they both showed a lot of heart. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy night for Khan after Maidana stood up from that brutal body shot. It was going to take a lot to stop Maidana, and Khan didn't have what it takes to stop him, let alone under 6 rounds like Roach predicted.
Rarely if ever has there been a world class fighter with a chin as bad as Khan's.
He's a special case, that will soon become very obvious.
Plus, as the piece suggested, Maidana's ability to land his punches against a defensive boxer has been proven.
Khan's ability to outbox and aggressive hard punching opponent with tremendous heart for 12 rounds? Not proven in the least bit.
Wlad Klit has a horrendous chin. Imagine if he fought Lennox Lewis - to this day they'd still be trying to pick up all the pieces of the broken glass! :P
you were so happy, one of the biggest wet moments in your boxing-following career, to see Mr Wegners ketchup head blew up.
Abraham getting "exposed" aka your personal revanche on Dirrell>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Frochs wonderfull performances, thats the way you thought, you cant fool anyone.:booty:
You only wanted Abraham to win because he is "German" and wanted Froch to lose because he is not.
I've been supportive of Froch since well before the Abraham fight.
There goes that horsecrap hypothesis.
you were so happy, one of the biggest wet moments in your boxing-following career, to see Mr Wegners ketchup head blew up.
Abraham getting "exposed" aka your personal revanche on Dirrell>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Frochs wonderfull performances, thats the way you thought, you cant fool anyone.:booty:
If Amir can make it a boxing contest I like his chances, if Amir gets brave I think he ends up in trouble.
A puncher against a weak chinned boxer is always an interesting contest.
You only praised him as you hate Abraham even more.
You're the dumbass. You're a hateful , disgusting cowardly scumbag who sits behind his keyboard and talks ****. You are the definition of a COWARD and I have no doubt that you stink of faeces.
I've been supportive of Froch since well before the Abraham fight.
There goes that horsecrap hypothesis.
I also bet on Prescott to beat him and got paid 16-1 on my money.
So I could bet against Khan 15 more times and if he wins every time I will still break even.
I know that concepts like "odds" and "risk/reward" are way beyond your comprehension level.
Anyone who is laying 3-1 on Amir Khan and his glass chin is this fight is going to be ****t*ng their pants over their bet from the moment the fight starts.
lol Im also betting on Maidana. i wasnt talking about my comprehension level. to pick MAB and Paulie is way beyond any level.
my point is you are biased.
what would you say if Khan beats him with style?
BenLondon is a dumbass.
I consider Froch one of my favorite fighters in the sport right now.
Considering British fans don't even respect him I would say I have more respect for British fighters than the average British fan who pays for Haye and Khan PPV's but won't be arsed to support Froch.
You only praised him as you hate Abraham even more.
You're the dumbass. You're a hateful , disgusting cowardly scumbag who sits behind his keyboard and talks ****. You are the definition of a COWARD and I have no doubt that you stink of faeces.
I think khan wins a decision...khan boxes maidana on the outside with his speed, reach, and jab. but if maidana lands that big shot amir will be on queer street. this is the ultimate test for khans chin.
He was praising Froch all week, and his exposure of AA.
BenLondon is a dumbass.
I consider Froch one of my favorite fighters in the sport right now.
Considering British fans don't even respect him I would say I have more respect for British fighters than the average British fan who pays for Haye and Khan PPV's but won't be arsed to support Froch.
Hitman is obsessed, he can't shut up about being anti-English fighters.
That's funny cause I've made about 20 pro-Froch posts in the past 2 weeks.
What country is Froch from?
Just cause the rest of the mainstream British fighters and their fans are the laughingstock of the boxing world isn't my fault.