By Martin ‘The Brain’ Potter of the Boxing Clever Podcast: Having left Devon Alexander bruised and battered (or should that be bruised and butted) in the recent world title unification clash, it is safe to say that Timothy Bradley has ascended to the throne and is now the ‘king’ in the light welter weight division. However there is another self-styled ‘king’ waiting in the wings plotting a revolution. A man aiming to overthrow Bradley. A man who will attempt to punch the crown straight off his considerable head. That man is Britain’s Amir Khan, the reigning WBA light welter weight champion, and, unless Bob Arum gets his way, he must surely be Bradley’s next opponent to decide who is the ‘king of kings’.
Arum has declared that Timothy Bradley would be too tough for Amir Khan and that ‘desert storm’ would be a better match up with his own charge, the mighty Manny Pacquiao. I’m not sure what fight Arum was watching if he honestly thinks the Tim Bradley that fought Devon Alexander would be either too good for Khan or even remotely good enough to face Pacquiao. To be blunt, Bradley was poor, even in victory, and I’m sure both Khan and Pacquiao would relish facing him.
As the old saying goes, styles make fights, and Bradley’s bull like approach would play right into the hands of a lightning fast combination puncher like Amir Khan. When you watch Khan you notice that many of his combinations are straight punches, rapid and piston like, which means they go straight down the middle. Timothy Bradley marches forward and throws looping like punches, before tying his opponent up. It is hard to imagine how Khan could fail to connect with his trademark straight blows as Bradley attempts his arching shots, given that a straight punch has a far shorter distance to travel, alongside the fact that Khan is so much faster than Bradley in any case.
Khan would have to make only minimum adjustments to face Bradley, fighting slightly more on the counter and taking a quick step back before unloading as Bradley steps in and attempts the tie up. Bradley on the other hand would need a complete rethink of the bullyboy strategy he showed against Alexander and has shown previously in order to defeat Khan. In order to beat Amir you need either a big punch or enough ability to outbox him (or ideally a combination of both). I don’t see the power punch as a weapon that Bradley possesses and although Bradley is a very competent boxer, he is not really on Khan’s level.
Don’t get me wrong, ‘desert storm’ would be no walkover for the mercurial Brit. Bradley does have some potent qualities; his unrelenting will to win; mental and physical toughness and an awkward style (not to mention a side line in the Scottish martial arts.) These factors are why I don’t think Amir would stop him and would have to settle for a points victory.
Am I getting ahead of myself though, because first Khan has to overcome the unbeaten European champion, Ireland’s Paul McCloskey? No. The reality is that Khan has taken this match as a warm up and chose McCloskey because he is a credible yet non-threatening opponent. Khan is bigger, quicker, stronger, a better boxer and a harder hitter. Simply put, I see no way for Paul to win this fight.
If my predictions above come to fruition; what next for the man who would be king? At this stage of his career, despite the praise I have given him so far, Khan should run from Pacquiao and Mayweather like he was Floyd’s security guard (allegedly). In a couple of years’ time, if they are still around, then Khan may be seasoned enough to take on the aforementioned greats. If he fights either man in the next six to twelve months then Manny knocks him out or Floyd takes him to school and those scenarios could prove damaging to Khan’s still fledgling career.
Amir Khan will rule the light welterweight division. He is too good not to. However expect an up and down ride from Bolton’s finest in the next few years because he will get hit, he will get hurt, but more importantly, he will be king!
For more boxing opinion, inane babble and poor attempts at humour from ‘The Brain’ listen to the 5 star rated Boxing Clever Podcast, available on iTunes or at www.boxingcleverpodcast.libsyn.com or you can email me at boxingcleverpodcast@gmail.com..