Is Amir Khan good for the future of boxing in Britain?

What ride? Every boxers career is a ride. This is the start of his, and Willie Limmond, aswel as a commonwealth strap, is a bloody good opponent for a 12th fight. Better than Hattons 12th opponent, Better than Calzaghes 12th opponent, Better than John Murrays 12th opponent .... etc....

"inflated purses" - who do you think pays the purses? promoter, maybe? Im sure there were stipulations in the initial contract with details of pay incriments.

As for the deals with the likes of reebok? Cant comment. But I do disagree with "he represents all thats wrong with boxing" - infact im interested to hear exactly what he represents thats wrong with the sport?

 

You are so right mate hes just doing an audley harrison. If everyone wants to be taken in by all the hype then let them when khan ends up in the gutter like audley harrison it will be us who has the last laugh.

 

And hey my fellow Khan realists, you damn well know I won't just be having a laugh, I'll be pouring a drink and doing a little jig.

 

He makes a lot of money because he won Olympic silver at 17, comes across well to the general public and appeals especially strongly to British Asians.

He's fought a decent level of comp in his first 11 fights and is making a good step up in his 12th.

He hasn't faced any punchers yet but who puts prospects in with punchers?

To all of those people outraged at the hype and sponsorship money, would you rather it went to another more talented young boxer, and if so who, or would you rather it went to another sport or to a pop star/big brother contestant? It's not like he's robbing money out of other boxers' pockets, just that boxing is getting a bigger share of the available media money.

I can't see how more people watching boxing is bad for the sport and can't see how anyone who was a boxing fan before would be put off were Khan to be brutally ko'ed. Can't even see that all of those who watched the sport because of Khan would no longer watch it.

Can't really see the negative angle. :huh

 

i agree with you about the first part (your mate simpson?), but boxers are paid what they are worth as a product as well as how skilled they are. its like beckham getting paid a million dollars a week to play for LA Galaxy...he's not the best player in the world but is one of the most recognisable and therefore brings publicity and money to his employers.

Same with Khan...as you've said, he's achieved **** all in pro boxing, but his success as an amateur and the marketing machine behind him has made him one of the most recognisable boxers in the uk helping sell more tickets. so obviously he's going to get paid more than a hard working decent fighter who's been around but doesn't have the media-friendly aura required to create a sports personality.

its not sickening, its just how the world works.

 

Murray became famous by being the first british winner of the Junior US Open....hence he beat Khan to Young Sports Personality of the year.....voted by the British public....

He then consoliodiated his hype by beating Roddick and Federer....in tennis you can lose ...in boxing you cant..

Murray is fourth favourite to win Wimbledon...even though he is eight seed, eleven in the world, never got past the forth round, and grass is his second worst surface.....if thats not overhype what its it???

The percentage of ppl who leave an event or switch off the telly after Khan is done is the MINORITY. Ask the ABA....khan has only helped bring ppl into gyms and increased theh viewing figures.

The hate is so irrational. And its this fake rightous indignation that is embarrasing to everyone.

Boxing is a business and has been since time immorial. Those lliberal lefties who blame everything on capitalism :tong . Money talks.....Paupers walk.....i drive around in a SLK

 

Ive enjoyed watching Khans fights this far - does this make me any less of a boxing fan?

 

I agree. Olympic silver medalists who beat the best P4P amateur in the world are unproven atsch

 

Thats unproven???? No.

Amateur Achievements

Beat the best P4P amateur in the world

2004 Athens Olympic Silver Medallist 60kgs div

2004 World Junior Gold Medallist and best boxer of the tournament (Korea)

2004 Senior Olympic Qualifier (in Bulgaria) Strandja Cup Gold medallist and Best Boxer

2003 Senior Addias Box Gala (in Germany) Gold medallist and Best Performa

2003 European Schoolboys Championships (in Italy) Gold medallist

2003 Best English under 17 Cadet National Boxer Gold medallist

2003 European Cadets Championships Ahmet Comert Cup

2003 European Cadets Championships the Outstanding Boxer award

2003 European Cadets Championships in Lithuania 2003 Gold Medal

Junior Olympics 2003 USA Best Boxer

Junior Olympics 2003 USA Gold Medal

James Anderton Shield - best boxer of the season 2003.

Award for winning National Schoolboys championships three times consecutively.

Boxing Belt - for best outstanding overall boxer 2003.

National Juniors ABA Champion 2003 at 57-60kg.

National Schoolboys Champion 2003

Bolton Forum for sport the British Sports

Award 2003 for outstanding performer

Best Boxer for National Schoolboys Northern Champion 2003

NABC Boys Club Championship 2002

Four Nations Gold Medal Champion 2002

National Schoolboys Champion 2002

Hancock 2001 Gold Champion Medallist
England vs Ireland Champion April 2001
Included Best boxer of the night

British National Schoolboys Champion 2001

England vs Scotland Champion Dec 2000
Included Best boxer of the night

Mutinations ( teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland) Oct Champion 2000

Northern Counties Vs Midland Counties Champion 2000

Mersey Side Select vs Repton Boys Club (South of England) Champion 2000

 

That isn't quite the same P4P greatness Calzaghe showed by moving through the weights winning the ABA title, at 3 different weights in 3 years.

 

ironbull - so Khan is just giving that money away from the goodness of his heart is he? You don't think it's an investment?

 

You dont make much money at all running a boxing gym. I have helped run one, if he dished out 700,0000 of his own money for monetary gains there are other investments much more profitable. So yes its more out of the goodness of his heart cause he wants to give back to the community and he also said he wanted his own gym close to his place so he could work out.

 

But is the below not prominent with him too, and yet he's older and has had more fights?!?!

 

Oh wow, 17 year old Olympic medalist, never heard that in the line of defence before when it comes to Amir Khan.

Yes, that was quite a special achievement, but it has little to do with successful professional boxing and they have done everything wrong to mature him into a good professional boxer, they are using him as a cash cow and the "kid winning the medal" is the novelty that sells it to the average idiot.

Unproven PROFESSIONAL. Bringing up the fact that he won an Olympic medal in defence of him as a professional boxer is about like Fraudley apologists and their "they don't just hand out Olympic medals" line. We see what Fraudley Harrison has accomplished in professional boxing.:thumbsup