Kotelnik beat alexander and had a close fight with Maidana. How does Khan go from total domination of the guy that had a close fight against Maidana to life and death with Maidana ? Kotelnik is a come forward pressure fighter too right ? do you think Khans fitness wasn't as good as it was in the kotelnik fight ? It's a striking difference how did Maidana not dominate kotelnik ?
kotelnik is NOT a come forward pressure fighter, he is a high guard style, low workrate boxer who grinds you down. he's also a very slow starter. and "How does Khan go from total domination of the guy that had a close fight against Maidana to life and death with Maidana ?" because styles make fights, see above description of kotelniks style.
Kotelnik has some major traits that are either lacking (speed) or average (punching power) but he's a top name. His defense and ring IQ keep hovering in the top 5 or so, probably. He's a smart fighter.
Kotelnik is the uncrowned unified LWW champion. I think his stock is pretty high regardless of this fight. Too bad they cheated him and didn't get those belts because he's now he unfortunately falls into the very high risk low reward category, and you can thanks the hometown judges for that.
Kotelnik is actually a top guy at 140 in my eyes, he beat maidana, beat alexander and got schooled by khan. He deserves to be mentioned along the other top guys in the division as well.
He beat Maidana in a close fight and whooped Alexander's ass in his own backyard. Khan was a bad style matchup for him though.
