by James Slater – Interim WBA light-welterweight champion Marcos Maidana was an angry man when he spoke with Fightnews.com yesterday. Speaking to the news site from his training camp in Cordoba, the big-puncher said training has gone well for his upcoming, August 28th clash with former champ DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley. Maidana, 28-1(27) had another fighter on his mind aside from Corley, however.
How long has the Argentine been waiting for a fight with Amir Khan, the man he is mandatory challenger to? As fans know, it’s been quite a while, and Maidana wants people to know he is sick of being jerked around.. Though he insists he is fully focused on his fight with the dangerous Corley, Maidana did have a lot to say about Khan and his trainer Freddie Roach.
“It’s been a great camp,” Maidana said. “I respect Corley as he is an experienced and talented fighter. One of those who you cannot underestimate nor make any mistakes [against]. Corley said it would be a war between Argentina and the United States, so that is what I am prepared for, a war.”
Maidana then turned his venom towards Khan and Roach; two men he refers to as liars!
“I think these people are hypocrites,” Maidana said of Khan and Roach. “It’s like they have one speech for the cameras and another for the promoters. Everyone knows that Khan ran scared from me last year and they only go for opponents that cannot punch or [are] lighter fighters. But when they have a camera or a mic in front of them, they shout that they would face me next.
“I say to Roach and Khan, stop lying to the boxing fans. I have no problem going to England and knocking him out.”
Maidana, who can afford no slip ups against Corley, sure has the right to face Khan, and it’s easy to see why he is so angry. Will Khan face him though? With a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez seemingly the WBA 140-pound champ’s preference, will Maidana see Khan get stripped for not facing him in the ring?
In the past, Khan HAS said he’ll fight the Argentine, yet nothing has ever come of it. As long as he keeps winning – against “Chop Chop” next – Maidana’s name is one Khan will hear again and again. But is Khan capable of merely ignoring it?