i've watched kotelnik again and again and i really think khan will win this fight maybe more comfortably then we all think Kotelnik with his upright euro style will be perfect for khan, Kotelnik doesn't counter well enough over the top, is too static and passive to make it work he's not padestrian but he's fairly slow especially when countering and although he's got a good jab (vital for his style) there's no variety, very rarely more then one and he can be beaten to it and off-set (khan's jab is fast, stiff and hopefully consistant in this fight) Kotelnik also tends to telegraph his punches (lifting is elbow) plus he needs to set his feet everytime which means he'll struggle with opponents with fast foot movement and everything is in straight lines. basically khan can win this fight by flurrys and moving back with his earmuffs on even if he's hitting gloves and arms he'll be scoring his lack of head movement won't matter, he won't be forced to fight on the inside, the worst thing he could do is consistantly go to the body he's not savy enough to avoid shots even though that would be a good plan of attack against kotelniks style, i see khan winning a UD and kotelnik and everyone else complaining about all the shots that never landed the only question for me is, whether khan is disciplined enough to stick to the simple game plan of flurrying and going away and establish his jab to off-set kotelnik, this isn't difficult but its khan and he makes the simplest things very difficult, pre presscott he was fighting like a knockout artist if khan has discovered and stuck to his identity (fighting the way that best suits him) then he wins this fight, close but convincing.
I am watchin koptelnik,as i watch KOT. I bet Roachy game plan is 4 Khan to break down Kot by attacking the body..
that would make a lot of sense (bring kotelniks arms down and work on his stamina as he's good in the second half of the fight) and if it was any fighter i would advicate it, however khan is pathetic anywhere near close range and would get countered, his best bet is to stay on the outside, pop the jab and neutralize kotelniks
people are always gonna go on about his beard, but his technique or lack there of exentuated the problem, look at the gomez KD the position of his head is ridiculous, the guys looking up at the ceiling
Khan's game plan is to stay at long range giving Kotelnik lateral movement and shooting in with fast flurries head to body and rolling off and moving away and basically winning rounds on that. They feel Kotelnik is a plodder who has good passive defence but works at slow pace and wont be able to handle Khan's speed and workrate. Imo i feel Khan wastes alot of nervous energy and i think he will at some stage get clipped and that's when we will see if he's really world class.
Very good points. I can see Khan winning in the 11th by TKO. I think Khan will be landing to many flurries and the ref will be forced to stop the action, probably while Kotelnik is still on his feet. I also think that body shots are a good idea as long as Khan can pick his shots at the right times down there, as he'll have to be in and out alot to win this one. I also agree that this one may be easier for Khan than people think. We shall see.