Khan landed a perfect punch when he saw the opening. It could've happened in 1st 2nd or 10th round. So while comparing other fighters performances, you can't put a whole lot of weight on the 72nd knock out even though it is impressive.
sounds like 10 years ago he was a tricky fighter who just didn't give up. interesting to read he took the harris fight at just a few days notice. i've got the feeling that st clair will have enough experience to make the fight ugly and take khan the distance (unless we are treated to a SN premature stoppage!).
Probably a tougher assignment than Thaxton. St Clair has never been stopped and been the distance with Diego Corralles,Leonard Dorin and Vivian Harris. Former IBF champ. Let's not forget Thaxton has only recently managed to win the British title
Apparently Khan has said (source Setanta Sports) that Thaxton is next after St Clair. "As soon as I beat St Clair I'll go back and fight Thaxton just to make things clear".
after fighting st clair, cant see the point in stepping back down to thaxton, unless he really struggles (in which case he should make the fight). If thaxton has a decent world ranking, or fought around the world/championship level, then its a different story. The only interest is the british title, but even that is really such a minor bauble He should have taken the 100k-125k offer. I really wanted to see that fight.
The longer this thread goes on, the better this Gairy St Clair sounds. Starts off as "Gairy who?" Come fight night he will be known as "The legendary Gairy St Clair" Let's face it, he's way too small and past his sell by date. I'm not saying he is a bad opponent but he is only here to make up the numbers. He will more than likely get stopped via a slightly controversial TKO. The fanboys will then rave about how he has never been stopped and how Khan is punching harder than ever.
:rofl :rofl great post...might not agree with everything...but great post none the less, very observant claypole
Yes I agree to an extent. However I fall somewhere inbetween. Firstly I think it is a better opponent than the Dane he was due to face, mainly because this guy has mixed at far higher standards and clearly has a good chin, appears to have an awkward style and thus should at least pose some different questions for Khan. However, he is way too small and when coupled with the fact that his best years are behind him (even if not by a long way) it is clear that he is nto going to really push Khan or be a threat. He will simply be durable and perhaps clever and fight in a way that makes Khan work and switch up attacks for a good number of rounds. It will be a good win if he stops him, as the guy has never been stopped and from the reports ate some big shots from Harris and Corrales and at 32 and having won against Baloyi recently (before losing) he is not showing signs of being shot. However it should still be treated as what it is, an acceptable fight but one that does not really answer the major questions regardless of what happens, because the guy is too small and not a big puncher at Super Feather never mind when facing Khan who come fight night will be 140 or more.
It seems like all he could give Khan is a full 12 rounder. The real questions about Khan probably can't be answered until he fights for a world title, as there's probably only people at the top level of the division that have the tools to beat him.
All we are saying that StClair can fight, I have seen at least 10 of his fights and he knows his way around a boxing ring. I think Khan will win and stop him because he has more talent. Look St Clair is better than the Danish guy.
there is still a point in fighting thaxton afterwards. it clears up who is the best domestic lw, and it will be another learning fight as thaxton will present a different type of opponent than st clair (for a start he's a strong natural lightweight). as you say, it won't improve his ranking at all, but it will help develop him as a fighter.
Agreed and another obvious point would be the chance to clinch the British Title. Khan did well to capture the Commonwealth Title early on but I rate the British Title above it so in that sense it would be a worthy acquisition.
Khan has said himself that no one can take his power. People can only judge him by the standards he himself sets. I would actually prefer it if he was taken 12 rounds and got given a hard time of it. It might make him wind his neck in, and people may warm to him a bit more.
i honestly dont see the fight going the distance either khan TKOs him inside 5 or gairys corner retires him in the late rounds,