khan could learn a few things from morales

That's not who Khan is. It's not as simple as just starting to roll with punches.

 

Experience that was from morales

 

He hasn't got the chin for it for a start.

 

Surely rolling with the punches would protect his chin a lot better? He's got to do something about his inside defence because he showed against Maidana that him just standing there with a very leaky guard doesn't stop punches getting in. He's not like Pacquiao in that regard who's pretty adept at doing the same thing. Every uppercut Maidana threw got through

 

HOW MANY TIMES?!?!?!

Getting out of range and staying off the ropes is the only thing he should do. Catching/parrying/rolling with shots can lead to getting clipped. Morales, one of the greatest chins of all time, could afford to get banged up a bit.

Khan shouldn't have been caught with Maidanas hail mary right in the first place, if he's as good a boxer as people say he is.

Fact is, he now knows how to defend himself better (against accumulation punchers that are sloppy finishers anyway) when buzzed; if he's smart, he shoul be aiming to get hit as least he can.

Might not be exciting, but it's the only way he can prosper IMO. He has natural handspeed, terrible footwork and a dodgy chin.

I'm gonna' be labelled a hater, but I'm being a realist; the only way he'll amount to more than belt holder is with a safety first gameplan and a bit of luck. I cannot recall a fighter with as poor punch resistance as he has becoming the no.1 in the division.

He's lucky the man at 140 is a borderline feather fist (and a terrible finisher). However, Khan still makes a lot of mistakes and I could see Bradley leading him onto something sharp as Amir outworks him.

I have to say I was massively surprised by Morales, a shopworn fighter, coming through the 12. Like Khan, he had to take the championship rounds off, that is due to low stamina and being way past his best and out of his best weight.

What was Khans excuse? I was very impressed with him learning the boxing basics of bringing your hands up to protect yourself, but I actually think the Maidana fight showed up Khans lack of ability.

One great attribute, and that's it. The way his feet get closer and closer together as he gets futher into his flurries is an error he's had since the amateur days. I'm not certain that even Roach can change that.

But, as per the OP; Khan did do what Morales done, when he was badly buzzed. With his youthfulness, conditioning, an the fact the extra 5lbs was supposed to make such a difference, why was he even getting caught by Hail marys when on the back....oh, sorry I forgot, he let Maidana hit him to prove his chin :deal

Or rather, prove how he can run for three rounds and not walk onto any follow ups like he has done in the past, Boxing 101 and nothing to be that impressed by IMO, but then again, I am a 'hater' for not tonguing the arse of every fighter from our shores that has picked up a bauble.

 

No, because he wouldn't be a master of it and it would lead to him taking shots that he wouldn't have if he was on his bike. Even masters of it like Mayweather get caught sometimes but they've usually got the chin for it.

 

I agree they'd probably have the dig to hurt Amir, but they're not big punchers.

Stay out of range. If someone hits/stuns him, he's gonna' have to get on his bike I'm afraid, it's such a stylistic flaw that he's always gonna' have, and I'm afraid that history shows it's not a great flaw to have if you're looking for longevity.

Especially if your style necessitates you keeping a high output (not much power, need to dissuade your opponents somehow) and you're not a 'pure' boxer. People flame me for it, but Khan is an offensive whirlwind.

How many offensive whirlwinds with shocking chins have continued to prosper at the top? I mean, it's not like Terry Norris getting sparked by genuine one-punch hitters like Simon Brown and Julian Jackson, is it? Or an undersized Floyd Patterson taking on bigger blokes and coming back from hellacious knockdowns by fighting back.

Khan cannot do that. The sooner people think he is going to develop into a Calderon-esque boxer (he also has a good chin to fall back on) just because HE HAS TO the better, because the likes of Laz/Darni are going to be very disappointed when the same flaws Khan demonstrates in every fight see him the victim of another conclusive loss.

 

Also, 'rolling with punches' is letting the punches go through your head whilst turning away and taking the sting off of it, and then staying in range to land a counter and move on.

Khan is not a sharp enough hitter than he should be advised to throwing single shots.

he should also not be advised to be taking glancing blows by anyone other than the likes of Paulie. Flurrie, get out. If you're unlucky enough to fight someone who is good/durable enough to let you throw your flurries and time ya', touch luck I'm afraid, if you're not built with the punch resistance to consistently beat top level opposition.

 

He was on his bike for the majority of the Maidana fight but still ended up on the ropes so he will need to find some way of coping with it. And since when has it become necessary for him to become a 'master' of it? As you have said his defence is mainly based on his foot speed so he will never likely spend much of a fight on the ropes but he needs something better to deal with that type of pressure when it comes than the nasic, flimsy guard he currently uses.

 

Of course he needs to improve his inside work somehow, I don't think anyone will disagree with that. I just don't think him trying to roll with the punches is the answer. It's not who Khan is.

 

He should watch some Ricardo Lopez. No inside skills whatsoever.

Then again, I'm not certain how effective Khan is from mid-range/outside. His 'jab' is a myth IMO, I've rarely seen it applied effectively.

As I say, he is reliant on outworking his opponents with eye catching flurries. This will not work forever, and I'm not certain he can solve some of the awful problems he makes.

He should be getting in-out as quickly as possible HOWEVER; just watch him. By the time he has finished his combos, he is in no position to move laterally or step back (also a bad idea but not as bad if he keeps his hands up and his chin tucked in) so he needs to adapt his style to land one or two fast shots, remain balanced, re-set, and do the same.

If he gets caught on the ropes, get out as soon as poss'. If he gets caught on the ropes and stunned, it's back to Maidana round 10.

And if you've gotta' do that every time you get buzzed, you're not a top-level fighter IMO.

Amir Khan is one dimensional. And as amazing as his handspeed and fighting heart is, it's just not a style that leads to longevity/repeated success at the top level.

 

I agree, it's lucky that the biggest puncher in the division has been shown to be as equally one dimensional relying on power and that helped him survive to get the decision over him. Khan will be in a world of trouble if he let's Bradley's physicality force him back cos even though he isn't a big puncher, Khan will be completely negated on the inside.