By James Slater – Amir Khan disagrees strongly with those people who claim he has a suspect chin and is unable to take a hard crack to the jaw. How come, you may ask, when Khan was iced inside a minute by the only true puncher he has faced in his pro career, in Breidis Prescott? Because, claims Khan, in talking to Boxing News Magazine’s web site – www.boxingnewsonline.net, he had seriously weakened himself in making weight for that fight and most of his other lightweight bouts.
And Khan, now a light-welterweight, says he has full confidence in his ability to take a shot if he needs to due to the way he has been able to handle anything and everything stable mate Manny Pacquiao threw at him in sparring In L.A..
Khan, who faces the single biggest threat to his career, punch-power-wise, in Marcos Maidana next, told Danny Flexen that he has no doubts about his chin now, due to his handling of Pac-Man’s power in the gym, coupled with his increased strength up at 140-pounds.
“I’ve taken Manny Pacquiao’s hardest shot in sparring when he weighed 152-pounds and he’s not put me down” Khan said. “I’ve been hit by middleweights and never been put down in sparring. It was only when I was killing myself making weight. I make the weight easier now, I’m a lot stronger and I feel like I can stand in front of any shot.”
The jury is still very much out on whether or not the reigning WBA light-welter champ can “stand in front of any shot” and be able to take it – simply because Khan has not faced a big-hitter since leaving the 135-pound weight class behind him.
Andriy Kotelnik, from whom Khan won the WBA belt he now holds, is more stylist that banger, Dmitriy Salita, Khan’s first title defence opponent, was blown away before he had a chance to test the champ’s whiskers, and we all know Paulie Malignaggi, Khan’s last foe, is no puncher at all.
Who knows, maybe Khan’s jaw will have more substance to it up at 140, and perhaps the KO loss and the trips to the floor he suffered at lightweight were largely due to his weight-making efforts? There will be definite proof on this score if Khan gets tagged by the lethal Maidana on Dec. 11th and takes the shot without crumbling. If, however, the Argentine does as many fans say he will, and takes Khan down in a Prescott-like manner, all talk of whether or not Amir’s chin can do the business at the higher weight will be forgotten.
Taking the best shots of a fighter like Pacquiao is admirable, even with head-gear on. But can Khan replicate this toughness in a real fight? We’ll soon see. For even if Khan adopts a hit-and-run, safety first approach in his Las Vegas debut, he is still sure to get tagged at least once. Then we’ll see if the 23-year-old can back up this recent talk regarding his beard!