Khan needs to decide. Be entertaining or be a world champion. Can't have both.

Mand got it spot on, he tried to box for the most part and not get involved, unfortunately for him his defense is non existent.

He's just not good enough to beat any of the top 5 IMO.

 

It wasnt really safety first…. He was still charging forward throwing combinations. The Diaz counters were missing by a whisker and he still never clocked on.

The Kotelnik fight was the only time he has fought a safety first approach for 12 rounds.

Khan has the stamina and the chin to go the full 12 so he needs to go into fights looking for the UD, not the KO…. It doesn’t matter if people think he is boring, because they’ll always be the element of “what if he gets clipped” when watching him fight. That level of intrigue will always make his fights must watch TV.

I think he is ****ed to tell you the truth, his footwork is all wrong, his mentality is all wrong, and GBP will continue to match him hard which is a huge problem.

Now Khan has reverted to saying how he isnt the finished article and hes still a work in progress…. He is 26, and he doesn’t have many years left. I don’t want to see him still in the game at 30...

 

I agree with you for the most part, and maybe I need to review the fight fully again, but I actually noticed a Khan that was holding back. When not hurt, he didn't look his usual careless self. He was actually reserved and more measured. What you're asking him to do -- go for UDs (which is something I'm totally in agreement with) -- was exactly what he was looking to do. But the one drawback with this new approach, is that it in turn allows his opponents the full 36 minutes to check his chin which we've noticed is deteriorating.

Honestly, for once, Khan's problem on Saturday night was not his mentality or his decision-making. In fact, it was those things that actually saved him from losing. His issue at the moment are more phyiscal and technical:

• Still can't spot left hooks.
• Ability to hold shots is getting worse.
• Footwork/balance a little clumsy at times.
• Hands dropping lower and lower as the fight went on.
• When in retreat, not offering anything to deter the opponent. Diaz grew in confidence because during the times when Khan wasn't throwing (and there were lots of them) he had the time/freedom to throw anything he wanted.

I feel at the moment he's just in a transition period. He's trying really hard to adopt Hunter's new style, and he just hasn't been given the time to get used to it properly. And what's worse, like you've said, is that GBP will be rushing him into a title fight in December which will be disastrous for him.

 

Thats a key point, Khan seems to be only able to operate in full attack mode or full defence mode - theres no blend. He needs to develop a fending jab, instead of a straight jab.

Hunter is trying to get him to spot distance from the front foot always, and work entirely around the anchor of the pivot on it. Khan can fight at mid range and discourage men from walking him down by standing his ground at mid range and constantly pivoting, instead of getting off a combo then moving straight back and going backwards. Hunter was pleading with him to stand his ground because anytime he did, Diaz kept honest and stayed in that range with Khan, and had little success.

Interesting to see what the next move is regarding an opponent - I sensed Hunter feels its still very much a work in progress before a world title tilt

 

Absolutely spot on....When Khan had his front foot nailed to the centre of the ring he looked a million dollars and pretty solid. Its when he goes walkabout with his back touching the ropes that the real trouble starts and he ends up looking like a novice

 

Excellent post. Orange bits sum it up perfectly.

 

Obviously not, but saying "he should be much better" is just ridiculous. You clearly had the impression he was going to be along the lines of the elite then, I'm guessing? Because fighting and achieving at world level seems more than enough. And calling him a ****** for that reason?

Yeah, stupid post.

Its ignorance on his side, I agree, but to say he should be much better is just stupid. You're saying that as if he's on a life line. This is a sport, he's not in a position where he's desperately trying to get somewhere to change his stand point. At the end of the day, he's got a life to enjoy and whether he wants to put in work outside of that is up to him. That doesn't make him an idiot for not wanting to go the extra mile like some may. He's achieved plenty and secured himself. He's doesn't take things so personal or worry to the point where he thinks he has to stay with Virgil 24/7 because he's already content with what he has achieved. If he decides not to, then he'll know more than anyone that he won't be going into his next fight with as much improvement as he could have, but that's his choice.

 

Resorting to the "" is just like saying "You're right". :good

 

It really isn't as easy as is being made out. Most fighters get hit with the odd good shot in a fight, even defensively excellent one. As the old saying goes, can't swim without getting wet.

 

You would like to think that but more than likely he can't be bothered arguing with you and he's telling you to **** off.

 

Be interesting to see what points you disagree with in Lazarus' post

 

Awful comparison.

 

Again, this isn't a question of Amir choices. As I've said for many years he simply isn't good enough and has over achieved already.

 

In fairness to Khan he has to come out and say something positive to cover up the fact that he visibly hadn't changed a great deal other than looking even more vulnerable than last time. And he sure as hell doesn't choose to get smacked on the chin and give everyone a great night's entertainment. He's got the dilemma that all talented fighters who can't absorb a punch very well have had, in that he's caught between trying to be defensively smart whilst at the same time trying not lose the attacking edge that got him to where he is. He's trying not to back pedal the whole night but he also doesn't want to get caught ploughing forward with no care; the result being he gets caught between the two stools in no man's land. He's not going after people like he used to and appears hesitant.

He is always going to get caught by a punch somewhere down the line that scrambles him unfortunately. So he may as well try and get some decent work in before it happens.

Also don't know why Hunter didn't get in the ring instead of making Khan contort his head after every round to hear his pearls of wisdom.