It's a very good win for the WBA champ. My assessment of Khan after that fight is this : - He has a very good jab that would give fits to any top notch fighters out there around his weight. - He's quite consistent with his left, whether it's the jab or the hook he throws. - Against rangier and crisper counter punchers or the more powerful fighters, he'll have to find a way to make his right hand hit its target more often to stay out of trouble. I acknowledge that since Malignaggi is quick, slick and was ducking quite a bit when Khan was coming, it wasn't an easy task. Khan's right hand is just little too telegraphed and a bit too wide when he throws it. He was often lunging in while throwing it tonight. He would get picked apart every time against a slick counter puncher like Alexander. - He has very good reflexes and moves quite well on his feet. Overall, Khan is the goods but I would work a little more on straightening that right hand and try to throw more compact combos when in position to do so. Your thoughts ?
Good analysis. Khan's jab is rather good but i do agree with you that Khan does lean in with his right. He throws the right from to far out. He is quick so can get away with it against most fighters but against Alexander and maybe even Bradley he will have to shorten his shots and try and work into range behind his jab instead of leaping/leaning in.
Khan's jab was good, though we was fighting a smaller opponent with shorter range, on top of having a speed advantage over him, so he was able to utilise it alot. That said he did use it well. I wouldn't say his reflexes are great, though they aren't poor either. I still think his footwork is poor, though. At some points where he pressed forward throwing left right left right he looked very amateurish and his right hand was so telegraphed and looped it was insane, I actually chuckled at one point.
His footwork was bad in that fight, particularly in the first half when he was clearly full of nervous energy. His right hand was also poor, but the jab was excellent.
Combine Malignaggi and Khan together and you've got yourself a fighter. Take Malignaggi's chin, heart, ability to take punishment and keep coming forward and combine with everything Khan has and you're talking a Pacquaio beater.
He only started reaching with the right after a few rounds when he realised that Malignaggi was always dipping backwards to avoid his shots, so he could get away with it. I doubt he'd do it against somebody more astute like Alexander.
It is easy to look good against a guy who power and arsenal you don't respect. Saying that khan has always been a gifted boxer. The only question mark is about his chin. Once he feels a top 140 fighter's power and is able to take it, then i can only see a bright future for this kid.
I thought Amir looked very nervous/excited for the first 4 rounds and looked as poor as i've seen him. Once he relaxed and started backing up Paulie with stinging left hand jobs the fight was won. I did thing Khan would have the power to knock Paulie out, but give Malli some credit, he is very difficult to hit clean. Khan's performance was a 7/10 and he can do much better. I think a No.3 in the division rnaking is fair at present. I would think his next fight should be against Maidana, he will have the skills to handle him and should gain confidence if he can put away the divisions supposed bigest hitter.