Tweet
At first glance, this fight and result, with Khan stopping Kristjansen in the 7th, look to be just another stop on Amir Khan's train ride to a title, and perhaps it is, but I think that this was a surprising and revealing fight, that both answered some questions and raised some new ones about Amir.
For me the first four rounds were fairly typical Khan rounds, despite a slightly more circumspect style than we have sometimes seen. He looked stronger, faster and bossed his opponent around the ring, but still, as always left himself open to the overhand right, and we saw, if we haven't already that Khan is going to HAVE to work on this because against a big puncher he could get into trouble.
So far, nothing new. What surprised me about these rounds was that despite landing some good shots, Kristjansen, to me, never really looked hurt. He's never been stopped so he must have a decent chin, but this was supposed to be Khan the too-big lightweight beast, and I think that some of the doubts over his power that we saw when he first left the amateurs might just resurface. At the very least we saw that Khan is not the unstoppable force that some people believe he is. This might be no bad thing if Khan can realise it himself.
In rounds 5 and 6, with the energy of Khan's initial attack spent, Kristjansen started to make it more competitive, which going off the betting, is a surprise in itself. With Khan visibly tiring, it began to look like we might see the fight go the distance. In these two rounds Kristjansen was the agressor, and we saw something we haven't seen before, Khan the counterpuncher. The results were quite impressive. Khan kept his hands high, kept his distance, measured the distance with his jab and tried to exploit openings when Kristjansen attacked. On the occasions when the fighters did exchange, I think we saw Khan demonstrate excellent decision making and adaptability, he always eemed to throw the right punch and seemed to be able to adapt his combinations at will to counter any pressure Kristjansen was applying. Impressive. We also so, however, that sometimes, when throwing punches from medium range, Khan has a worrying tendency to square up with both arms flailing, but with a static head and feet. Another tendency it will be advisable for him to remedy.
The final surprise, to me, was Khan forcing the stoppage in the seventh. To me it had looked like Khan did not have the power to get his man out of there, and had not been able to overwhelm him in his earlier attacking burst. That Khan was apparently able to switch up his game at will, and just throw more than Kristjansen could handle, was doubly impressive. First, it is a great talent to have, but second I think it cast Khans performance in rounds 5 and 6 in a new light. To me it seems that rather than having run out of gas, Khan took the tactical decision to take a breather, let his opponent wear himself out and then come back at him. This I think the first time we have seen Khan the real boxer.
So in summary. Khan is absolutely not a beast who he is going to rampage through multiple divisions knocking guys out with one shot, he doesn't seem to have the power. He still has a couple of defensive weaknesses too. However, for the first time, he looks like a proper boxer. He has the ability to be tactically astute and to minimise his weaknesses and maximise his strengths. His handspeed, and ability to throw smooth, lightning combinations is going to make him a tough opponent for anyone, and he will overwhelm many future opponents with these skills alone.
The question of whether he is capable of fighting for a world title, is to me, no longer live, he is capable of fighting for one and winning.
The questions about Khan that still remain are these:
1) Can he win against power?
2) Can he win against a slick, fast boxer like himself?
EDIT:
With the powerful Campbell and the slick Casmayor as prospective opponents, he is perfectly poised to provide us with the answers.
________
Hawaii dispensaries
For me the first four rounds were fairly typical Khan rounds, despite a slightly more circumspect style than we have sometimes seen. He looked stronger, faster and bossed his opponent around the ring, but still, as always left himself open to the overhand right, and we saw, if we haven't already that Khan is going to HAVE to work on this because against a big puncher he could get into trouble.
So far, nothing new. What surprised me about these rounds was that despite landing some good shots, Kristjansen, to me, never really looked hurt. He's never been stopped so he must have a decent chin, but this was supposed to be Khan the too-big lightweight beast, and I think that some of the doubts over his power that we saw when he first left the amateurs might just resurface. At the very least we saw that Khan is not the unstoppable force that some people believe he is. This might be no bad thing if Khan can realise it himself.
In rounds 5 and 6, with the energy of Khan's initial attack spent, Kristjansen started to make it more competitive, which going off the betting, is a surprise in itself. With Khan visibly tiring, it began to look like we might see the fight go the distance. In these two rounds Kristjansen was the agressor, and we saw something we haven't seen before, Khan the counterpuncher. The results were quite impressive. Khan kept his hands high, kept his distance, measured the distance with his jab and tried to exploit openings when Kristjansen attacked. On the occasions when the fighters did exchange, I think we saw Khan demonstrate excellent decision making and adaptability, he always eemed to throw the right punch and seemed to be able to adapt his combinations at will to counter any pressure Kristjansen was applying. Impressive. We also so, however, that sometimes, when throwing punches from medium range, Khan has a worrying tendency to square up with both arms flailing, but with a static head and feet. Another tendency it will be advisable for him to remedy.
The final surprise, to me, was Khan forcing the stoppage in the seventh. To me it had looked like Khan did not have the power to get his man out of there, and had not been able to overwhelm him in his earlier attacking burst. That Khan was apparently able to switch up his game at will, and just throw more than Kristjansen could handle, was doubly impressive. First, it is a great talent to have, but second I think it cast Khans performance in rounds 5 and 6 in a new light. To me it seems that rather than having run out of gas, Khan took the tactical decision to take a breather, let his opponent wear himself out and then come back at him. This I think the first time we have seen Khan the real boxer.
So in summary. Khan is absolutely not a beast who he is going to rampage through multiple divisions knocking guys out with one shot, he doesn't seem to have the power. He still has a couple of defensive weaknesses too. However, for the first time, he looks like a proper boxer. He has the ability to be tactically astute and to minimise his weaknesses and maximise his strengths. His handspeed, and ability to throw smooth, lightning combinations is going to make him a tough opponent for anyone, and he will overwhelm many future opponents with these skills alone.
The question of whether he is capable of fighting for a world title, is to me, no longer live, he is capable of fighting for one and winning.
The questions about Khan that still remain are these:
1) Can he win against power?
2) Can he win against a slick, fast boxer like himself?
EDIT:
With the powerful Campbell and the slick Casmayor as prospective opponents, he is perfectly poised to provide us with the answers.
________
Hawaii dispensaries
.
Comment