I've never been the biggest fan of Roach but recently i've started to accept the fact that i probably underrated his worth as a trainer. If we look at Khan vs Kotelnik matchup and set aside the popularity of the fighters, everything indicates that Kotelnik should win tihs one handily. Khan is moving up in weight against someone who has been in with Witter, MBaye twice, Abdulaev, and most recently Maidana. Though Kotelnik is no elite fighter he is a solid contender on the same level as guys like Ngoudjo, Bailey, Ndou, Malignaggi, etc. Khan in recent fights got KTFO by Presscot, couldn't put down a bloodied Barrera, and has been rocked and knocked down by what we can pretty much consider bums. If Khan manages to beat Kotelnik then I will give Roach his due credit. And of course i will give Khan his due credit as well for improving as a fighter. However i have a feeling that this is all smokescreen and that the plug will be pulled on this fight before it happens.
I agree with this. But... Kotelnik was being outslicked by Gavin Rees for a LARGE portion of their fight. As long as Khan has the stamina to stay on his bike and at a safe distance, he should beat Kotelnik just on class. Saying he "should" though sure doesn't mean that he "will". It's a tough fight for Khan.
I TOO am extremely shocked as to WHY Khan would take this fight??? It's a guaranteed loss!! Weird somehow I think it won't go through. No way would he go for it. Andrey
gavin rees barely landed anything on kotelnik, kotelnik damn near put a defensive clinic on rees.. i think even buncey or whoever was comentating, said that too.. and the judges that were judging didnt know how to score a fight, and almost robbed kotelnik again...
Really? That sure wasn't what I was watching over the first half of that fight. He hurt Rees a few times at the ends of rounds, but the handspeed was clearly bothering him. Second half of course was a different story completely.
yes, rees threw alot of punches.. and was definately the more active fighter at the begining, but he didnt land anything, i think youd be hard pressed to find 10 or 15 clean punches from rees the entire fight, i'd say that that is the way to deal with rees.. to cover up and counter punch.. im sure that kotelnik had sore arms and elbows after the fight, cause thats where the punches landed.. but there is no way, kotelnik was being slicked, or outclassed in the fight.... thats the way i saw it
yah, roach can focus excusively on khan and im siding khan in this fight...kotelnik would finally be exposed
Kotelnik's got a very good trainer too: Michael Timm (training Sturm, Chagaev, Dzinziruk, Sidorenko, and Brähmer as well)
