Amir Khan-Andriy Kotelnik: The Post-Fight Report Card

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - Big box office just got a whole lot bigger.

With potential homegrown superfights lurking just around the corner in the Jr. Welterweight class, Britain’s Amir Khan (21-1, 15 KO) successfully moved up from Lightweight and is about to find himself in some rare air. Wresting the WBA belt at 140 lbs. away from veteran Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KO) is only the beginning for the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist.

The judges certainly sent him forward in style. While no one should find fault with Khan’s victory, the scores (120-108 and 118-111 twice) were a stretch. Khan got off to a roaring start but the fight got more competitive as the rounds ticked by and Kotelnik deserved more credit than he got. [details]

[D-MiZe]

Did he just say that Khan-Hatton would be bigger than the Eubank, Benn and Watson days?

Is the writer American by any chance?

[Scott9945]

By Cliff Rold - Big box office just got a whole lot bigger.

With potential homegrown superfights lurking just around the corner in the Jr. Welterweight class, Britain’s Amir Khan (21-1, 15 KO) successfully moved up from Lightweight and is about to find himself in some rare air. Wresting the WBA belt at 140 lbs. away from veteran Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KO) is only the beginning for the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist.

The judges certainly sent him forward in style. While no one should find fault with Khan’s victory, the scores (120-108 and 118-111 twice) were a stretch. Khan got off to a roaring start but the fight got more competitive as the rounds ticked by and Kotelnik deserved more credit than he got. [details]

Definitely agree about the scorecards Cliff.

[crold1]

Did he just say that Khan-Hatton would be bigger than the Eubank, Benn and Watson days?

Is the writer American by any chance?

Yes...and Hatton-Khan, based on what Hatton has generated at the gate to date and what Khan is doing is bigger than those fights $ wise.

Note I didn't say better.

[D-MiZe]

Yes...and Hatton-Khan, based on what Hatton has generated at the gate to date and what Khan is doing is bigger than those fights $ wise.

Note I didn't say better.

I don't think anything could be bigger than Eubank-Benn-Watson.

With Hatton's current problems, it's unlikely he'll return to boxing. I think the biggest fight for Khan inside of Britain now would be Witter, but that's not worth the risk unless he picks up that title.

I wish we could have another Eubank-Benn-Watson rivalry.

[crold1]

I don't think anything could be bigger than Eubank-Benn-Watson.

With Hatton's current problems, it's unlikely he'll return to boxing. I think the biggest fight for Khan inside of Britain now would be Witter, but that's not worth the risk unless he picks up that title.

I wish we could have another Eubank-Benn-Watson rivalry.

Those rivalries were rich but for a single fight Hatton-Khan would probably top is $-wise right now. I think Hatton comes back.

[D-MiZe]

I'm not too sure about Hatton returning, the guy gets some 'mysterious' illness. Which I bet is related to him bloating up between all of his fights, plus he's got to think about his wife and kid(s) now.

Big risk going back into the ring after his wife saw what happened against Pac.

Are you a betting man Mr.Rold?

[!! Shawn]

Those rivalries were rich but for a single fight Hatton-Khan would probably top is $-wise right now. I think Hatton comes back.

Cliff, I have now idea how you can give Kahn the same grade for power prefight and postfight?

Freddy Roach has severely diminished the kids power by emphasizing speed in combinations. Unfortunately, not everyone can turn their shoulders over as quick as Manny can, and Kahn is one of those not everbodys. His power was next to nothing tonight because of that. He never finished a punch before trying to throw another, and as a result ended up throwing nearly all arm punches in his combinations, he never gave himself time to turn over his shoulders.

I was not as impressed with Kahn's defense as you were. I was impressed that he managed to keep his hands up the whole fight, something I thought he would abandon when he tired, but even with his hands up, Kotelnik did not have any trouble getting past his guard when he wanted too. Kahn was doing little more than covering up and hoping nothing landed. Unfortunately, a truly effective hands up defense requires you to actually pay attention and actively block punches.

I was impressed with how well he maintained his speed throughout the fight, but I have a feeling much of that had to do with him not turning over any of his shots.

[crold1]

Cliff, I have now idea how you can give Kahn the same grade for power prefight and postfight?

Freddy Roach has severely diminished the kids power by emphasizing speed in combinations. Unfortunately, not everyone can turn their shoulders over as quick as Manny can, and Kahn is one of those not everbodys. His power was next to nothing tonight because of that. He never finished a punch before trying to throw another, and as a result ended up throwing nearly all arm punches in his combinations, he never gave himself time to turn over his shoulders.

I was not as impressed with Kahn's defense as you were. I was impressed that he managed to keep his hands up the whole fight, something I thought he would abandon when he tired, but even with his hands up, Kotelnik did not have any trouble getting past his guard when he wanted too. Kahn was doing little more than covering up and hoping nothing landed. Unfortunately, a truly effective hands up defense requires you to actually pay attention and actively block punches.

I was impressed with how well he maintained his speed throughout the fight, but I have a feeling much of that had to do with him not turning over any of his shots.

I thought what he was doing was strategic. Doesn't mean he doesn't have the same pop he's had before and Kotelnik having a proven chin doesn't hurt either. I thought Khan had no chance of a stoppage and it turned out that way. We'll know more when he faces someone whose chin is a little more suspect (and don't expect it for awhile cause most of those cats with softer chins can crack).

[!! Shawn]

I thought what he was doing was strategic. Doesn't mean he doesn't have the same pop he's had before and Kotelnik having a proven chin doesn't hurt either. I thought Khan had no chance of a stoppage and it turned out that way. We'll know more when he faces someone whose chin is a little more suspect (and don't expect it for awhile cause most of those cats with softer chins can crack).

He did the same thing with the body shots. I don't care what anyone says, there is no strategic reason not to turn over a body shot. Perhaps what Kahn was doing was not what Freddy was teaching him in the gym, he did seem to be fighting a frantic pace, but Freddie as a good coach should have anticipated that.

To Kahns credit, his movement was excellent, and he seemed to be using a fair bit more lateral movement on the offense, but over all, I was not impressed.

He looked amateurish tonight. Far more so than a fighter with 22 professional fights should look.