Load of fuss about nothing. I saw Khan being Khan. Looked a bit rusty if anything, which would explain why Hunter ended up talking about wanting Khan to move to the States full time.
I agree with most of your points and I knew critics would say diaz is a lightweight,not buying into the fact that Diaz is now clearly at his suitable weight and is a renowed puncher,also watching Diazs last few fights showed he is a fighter who comes on strong rounds 6-12 like Carson jones against brook so it was a risk on goldenboys part as amir always starts quickly and has struggled late in bouts before. So I actually think on paper it's a good win But he looked so fragile that you have to say he is another knockout waiting to happen Also I worry he hasn't added enough to his arsenal and becomes predictable Paul smith said he should mix up the pace of his shots I totally agree and with a guard that is secure he could reign again But sadly i don't see it
He knocked down Maidana with a liver shot. Did he hurt him after that? Never. Khan threw some massive hooks at Maidana himself after the body shot but never hurt him, which led Maidana to trail back. With Judah, it was a case of a body shot again where Judah also tried to make the excuse of a low-blow which backfired on him. Where is this power decline you see? Did you see any power in his bouts with Malignaggi and McCloskey? I saw the same fighter with a small amount of respectable pop. His power has not diminished at all. It's the same.
i think khan from 2010/2011 would have blown juan diaz out of there, diaz came in with something like 5 losses by way of KO. Khan couldn't even hurt him once, its god damn worrying, I think peterson coming in as juiced up as he was may have played a big role in khans decline, the shots he was landing persistantly can deteriorate u'r career and if you throw in PED's then he messes u up even more, especially if you're not noted for having great punch resistance
there are loads of fighters whose punch resistance diminish after taking accumulation of heavy punches.
Not many ppl can discourage Maidana but Khan's attacks were a lot sharper than now. The Khan of then would have dropped Diaz. Khan injured his hands against Molina and Roach and Ariza have spoken about his hand problems so no surprise to see some power diminishing.
I idea that Khan will one day move upto 147 is kind of scary ... the lad could end up getting really hurt.
I think in 2010 he would have gotten Diaz down at the very least. I honestly doing see him as a world champion again.
The Khan that beat Judah to the Khan who struggled past a past it but reasonable Julio Diaz is fair bit different IMO. As for people comparing Maidana and Matthysse they aren't really that similar fighters it's almost a lazy answer. Lucas is more refined and punches harder and with better technique. Still getting better as well, He's not unbeatable but he's a better fighter then the Maidana that fought Khan a few years back IMO. Matthysse IMO beat Alexander and the Judah fight could of went his way as well. I do feel Khan's declined, He looked great the night fought Judah. Tactically, technically and physically. The night he beat Judah he looked like he turned the corner and looked so thoughtful and fought such a classy fight. Last night he was wobbling to the punches of Diaz who isn't really a big puncher.
I think he has regressed as a fighter since those fights, particularly the Malignaggi one. People may dismiss it as a good win because of his lack of power but Paulie is a good fighter and I think Khan completely neutralised him. Khan's jab was at its best that night and even if Paulie had more power in his shots, it wouldn't have mattered because Khan was able to dictate the tempo and take away offensive opportunities from Malignaggi. It was a really disciplined performance IMO and a world class showing. Khan's best win at World level actually turned out to be his first I reckon, against Kotelnik. We've all seen how good a technician the Ukrainian is but Khan perfected the in-and-out raiding tactics more than he would manage to again. His speed was at its most effective and he was able to land and move away without too much problem. Don't tell me Khan from the Garcia, Peterson and especially last nights fight is tge same fighter as those performances because he's not. He's not as sharp moving away after his flurries and that's key. This mythical idea of him needing "to tighten up" or "improve defensively" is misleading for me- he's never been good at evading punches but wasn't ever as static in the pocket as he has been in recent fights. I always thought his jab was overrated when he was performing well against Judah, Malignaggi etc. (The amount he reached in with it was ridiculous at times) but it was so quick that it was a key asset for him. I don't think it's anywhere near as effective nowadays. So yeah I don't feel he is at the level he was, at all. Add in that his punch resistance is evidently waning (an over the hill Diaz at 143 is not a power puncher) and I don't see a fighter reaching the heights he's been at again. Garcia/Peterson aren't that good- Khan at his best would've beaten both IMO. It's not "ignorance" Laz, it's my opinion- I've watched Khan's last God knows how many fights and I think there's very strong reasoning as to him declining as a fighter.
I'm sorry if you can't see Khan has has declined then you've got Khan-tinted goggles on. It is not a big decline like falling off a cliff, but it is the natural and expected wear and tear you would expect from a fighter who has experienced what Amir has. I like Khan and admire his heart and courage but he's no different to other fighters we've seen over the years who have various great physical assets apart form the ability to absorb a punch as well as others. Khan never used to back-pedal at the rate he's done over his recent fights; there is a difference between fighting intelligently off the backfoot and running for cover. Made a comment in another thread about how draining it is when a fighter knows he has to avoid getting hit, unlike fighters who know they can place themselves in the pocket with the ability to take a punch in order to give one. This is MENTALLY draining and tiring as well as physical. Khan has had 2 stoppages so far, as well as the 12 round drainer against Peterson. And if there's anyone that think's the kind of punishment Maidana put on him has no after effects then they are people who have never taken a punch before.
Khan has definitely declined in recent fights. His performances against Maidana, Malignaggi, McCloskey and Judah were so much better than those against Peterson, Garcia, Molina and Diaz. The reason he's underperformed isn't because of any issue with styles, he's just not as good as he was a few years ago. There's no way that Khan from 2010/2011 gets beaten up in the late rounds and scrapes past Julio Diaz.
