Barrera/Khan - Warren Attempts To Make it a WBO Eliminator

[Dave Rado]

There has been, and will be worse champions than Amir Khan. Remember he has only had 20 fights. Barrera was fighting guys with 6-9 records for his 20th fight. Barrera is the right step up. I doubt Amir Khan will be facing any soft opposition now he is tied to Sky. They will demand big fights.

My point is that he is nowhere near ready for Marquez, Juan Diaz, Funeka, et al; that Prescott was the first meaningful fight he had had, and Barrera is only the second; and yet Warren wants him to fight for a world title straight away, before he's had the learning fights he needs to compete effectively at that level. Contrast that with Holyfield: although he only had 11 fights before fighting for his first world title, every one of those 11 fights was a competitive, meaningful fight that he could learn from; and even more importantly, Holyfield was taught the fundamentals of professional boxing from the beginning, whereas Khan wasn't taught the fundementals until he teamed up with Roach. Two fights under Roach is nowhere near enough for him to be able to change his style sufficiently to compete against a Marquez or a Funeka or a Juan Diaz.

Cotto and Dawson, are also good examples of the correct way to bring on a young fighter.

If Khan gets past Barrera it will be because Barrera is a very small lighweight, who is past his peak. It will be a great learning fight, but it will not mean his is ready for the elite in his division.

[theggamme209]

How is Barrera ranked #1 at lightweight by the WBO if he has never even fought at lightweight before?? That goes to show you how ****** all of these alphabet titles are!!

[BetterCallSaul]

My point is that he is nowhere near ready for Marquez, Juan Diaz, Funeka, et al; that Prescott was the first meaningful fight he had had, and Barrera is only the second; and yet Warren wants him to fight for a world title straight away, before he's had the learning fights he needs to compete effectively at that level. Contrast that with Holyfield: although he only had 11 fights before fighting for his first world title, every one of those 11 fights was a competitive, meaningful fight that he could learn from; and even more importantly, Holyfield was taught the fundamentals of professional boxing from the beginning, whereas Khan wasn't taught the fundementals until he teamed up with Roach. Two fights under Roach is nowhere near enough for him to be able to change his style sufficiently to compete against a Marquez or a Funeka or a Juan Diaz.

Cotto and Dawson, are also good examples of the correct way to bring on a young fighter.

If Khan gets past Barrera it will be because Barrera is a very small lighweight, who is past his peak. It will be a great learning fight, but it will not mean his is ready for the elite in his division.

I agree with you.

If Khan beats Barrera, I think he should fight David Diaz. He isn't a huge puncher, and I doubt he has the power to get Khan out with 1 shot. That would be a good measuring stick. Murray, and Arthur would also be good preparation fights. They are both solid fighters and would give Khan trouble. However I believe that Khan would beat them both handily. Thaxton is also an option. It would silence a lot of critics who say Khan has avoided him, but I think Khan TKO's him before the 3rd.

His next three fights should look like this -

Murray/Arthur - A good British scrap

David Diaz - A good measuring stick

Eliminator/Title fight

Although, I wouldn't rule out throwing Khan into the deep end. He is either a knockout or get knocked out kinda guy.

[Dave Rado]

I agree with you.

If Khan beats Barrera, I think he should fight David Diaz. He isn't a huge puncher, and I doubt he has the power to get Khan out with 1 shot. That would be a good measuring stick. Murray, and Arthur would also be good preparation fights. They are both solid fighters and would give Khan trouble. However I believe that Khan would beat them both handily. Thaxton is also an option. It would silence a lot of critics who say Khan has avoided him, but I think Khan TKO's him before the 3rd.

His next three fights should look like this -

Murray/Arthur - A good British scrap

David Diaz - A good measuring stick

Eliminator/Title fight

Although, I wouldn't rule out throwing Khan into the deep end. He is either a knockout or get knocked out kinda guy.

I think he should rematch Prescott before fighting for the title - although he isn't ready for Prescott yet, either.

And I think under Roach he can become a skilled boxer, who doesn't need to knock people out in order to beat them - but he needs time to develop into that fighter. His style pre-Roach was all wrong for the professional game, and I think you'll see a very different style against Barrera, boxing behind his jab, much more lateral movement, much more ring intelligence, much better fundamentals.

Not long to wait now to see if I'm right!

[bigdaddysback]

I'm not sure if i dislike Bob Arum or Frank Warren more? We all know Don King is a Wank!!!! Barrera is the smaller fighters, but doesn't have a glass chin!!

[BetterCallSaul]

I think he should rematch Prescott before fighting for the title - although he isn't ready for Prescott yet, either.

And I think under Roach he can become a skilled boxer, who doesn't need to knock people out in order to beat them - but he needs time to develop into that fighter. His style pre-Roach was all wrong for the professional game, and I think you'll see a very different style against Barrera, boxing behind his jab, much more lateral movement, much more ring intelligence, much better fundamentals.

Not long to wait now to see if I'm right!

I don't think Khan will ever be able to compete with that kind of power. The only way he can become a champion is by fighting guys with 50% KO ratios. Guys with 70+% ratios will probably be too much for him. I don't think we will see Khan in with Prescott until he has a Mayweather defence...which is never. Khan needs to be carefully managed like Mallignaggi.

The height of Khans career should be beating someone like Juan Diaz. A good, skilled, solid fighter, who has average power. However, Khan is still 5 good fights away from that level.

[Dave Rado]

I don't think Khan will ever be able to compete with that kind of power. The only way he can become a champion is by fighting guys with 50% KO ratios. Guys with 70+% ratios will probably be too much for him. I don't think we will see Khan in with Prescott until he has a Mayweather defence...which is never. Khan needs to be carefully managed like Mallignaggi.

The height of Khans career should be beating someone like Juan Diaz. A good, skilled, solid fighter, who has average power. However, Khan is still 5 good fights away from that level.

I rate his potential higher than you do; he could never trade with a Prescott, but I think he could outbox him, after another 2-3 fights under Roach. I agree it might possibly take as many as 5 fights to get to real world class level, which is why I think Warren is being appallingly cynical trying to push him into a world title fight now. I have real contempt for Warren now.

[Addition]

wow what a *****, he KNOWS marquez is moving up and vacating.

***** move frank.

A ***** move? Man stfu.

[ulises_solis]

should be a world championship fight since juanma marquez is the superchamp already
the wbo titles are really easy to get and if warren really wants it he could do it

[Gorgeous George]

what are you getting upset about!? you will see amir khan getting knocked again soon, maybe even this weekend! if not this year..