The Better Boxing Career: Naseem Hamed or Amir Khan?

Hamed

 

"Within an inch of his life"

Haha! Instead of going to hospital he had a bath!

 

I respect Khan has courage but what do elite skills mean when you can get knocked out fairly easily. added to that I dont think Amir was doing as well as some say in the Canelo fight, he was slowly getting walked down and even out boxed at times as the fight went on, it was very apparent where it was going imo. He is fast but if his skills were truly elite he would have done a Mayweather and avoided getting hit like he does.

 

same thing that happens in almost all his fights now .. he has "quick feet" but not "smart feet" if that makes sense. What that means is when he starts to tire (round 5 onwards) his feet slow down and and are then unable to get his chin out of danger. His feet are then not smart enough to take small half steps at the right times to negate the fatigue and the opponents attacks.

 

yeah that makes sense. its ironic that he is fast but he doesn't seem like a quick thinker in the ring, he knows the mistake afterwards but its too late, he hasn't got that improvisation in the moment. to be fair his chin doesnt help, he cant afford as many mistakes, he may have enough chin to survive a few attacks but it seems to turn his mind to mush

 

Was gonna post something very similar bud. I totally agree. He sits in the pocket too long which is lethal when your chin is made of biscuit. It's a lack of concentration imo, and I blame too many big concussive knockouts for that.

 

its also further highlighted every time he stepped up in weight carrying more muscle and weight (and possibly desire when it comes to training camps) has meant he tires quicker than he did at the lower weights combined with guys hitting harder. Its a bad combination for him

 

yes he has one of the worst boxing IQ's at world level. For all his talent at the start of his career he should have been much more but with the quick feet and hands he did not have a quick boxing brain . He always had that amateurish style rushing in and he got KTFO by Prescott. he still hasn't learned. His defence as well as his chin make him susceptible. The Brook and Thurman fights will end in another knockout

 

Thats why i think khan needs to get out. Hes got or had elite hand speed. Probably one of the fastest in the sport. Its so quick it causes even decent fighters problems. But its the only thing elite about him. The problem is hes trying to fight at the elite level. Hes ageing. Hes slowing down a bit as the weight creeps up. He doesnt have the advantages of his early career when he was bigger than opponents at probably his optimum weight. He outgrew the division though and now hes fighting guys around the same size as him.

For all virgils coaching...for any improvement hes made its revealed another weakness to his game. Essentially the bottom line is hes too flawed to fight at the elite or top level. I think its about to get dangerous for him. One of these soft touches will either back fire or someone decent will beat him down again.

He should have took brook and retired for good after it. I still say khan has a decent win left in him...because some guys struggle with that speed more than others. I rate brook highly but still see guys like garcia thurman as guys that can damage you more. Brook beats you with accuracy. These guys will beat khan with power. Not saying there better than brook...they d be great fights. But just saying brook might suit khan better...even tho brooks footwork might cause him nitemares. Khans speed might also cause brook nitemares. What does it matter anyway...if you can walk away with about 7 million for it. He cant lose really. Most people know the games up. If he does better than expected. It changes things a bit. If he loses most people knew anyway. I dont see brook giving him a bigger beating than garcia did...that was brutal.

 

Youre spot on Mc2.....very very curious he hasn't taken the brook fight unless Eddie was trying to screw him which I find very unlikely since you never hear anyone complain Hearn doesn't pay well.

More likely it was his delusions that a Floyd or Pac fight were imminent. Now those two are gone and Brook has already signed up for Spence a fight he may even lose if Spence is as good as some think so that would be another fight devalued.

I think an interesting development to add to your fundamental point that speed is the only elite thing about Khan is.......it is clear since 2012 his power has diminished......whether that's hands or he can no longer do it.....if he had had a bit more dig like in the old days v Peterson, Garcia, Maidana and Judah he could have discouraged Canelo a bit more like cotto did......but he didn't........... He should really just concentrate on defence if he cant do nothing about his chin......at this stage wins over the berto's or a broner would be a step up from what hes been doing.........and just going outside the box......it aint gonna happen but if he could still make 140 why doesn't he beat that guy that beat a shot ricky burns just to be a world champion again?

 

Having a bath is hardly within an inch of having your life taken!

 

Think they are concentrating on defence with virgil. Lateral movement etc...but the problem is at the top level you will take punches. Very few get out of their without taking them. I dont think he can make 140 and function properly there. He just outgrew his weight class...hes not 23 anymore. He was lucky a bit because the guys he was fighting judah...mallinaghi...barrera guys like that had probably outgrown there own optimum weight class. They we,re either heavier than their optimum or not fuctioning fully at the weight just trying to hang on in the division. Khan was a young man these guys we,re ageing. The position khans about to enter now or has already.

Thats when ring iq becomes more important...you ve got to old man these younger fitter stronger guys. Problem is khans entering older man stage and still has a ring iq of an inexperienced fighter.

 

Lol i think youve made me see the error of my ways! I stand corrected