Adam N. (London, UK): Amir Khan proved to the world that he’s a top tier fighter by dismantling Zab Judah. Could you give us your thoughts on him and what you’d like to see from him next.
Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve always said that Khan is a very talented fighter and I think, for the most part, the rest of the media world would agree. It was never a question about his talent, it was always more a question of his durability. From day one, I think Khan has shown a very good set of skills and like any other young fighter, it was simply a matter of him developing. Unfortunately he had to take a devastating loss on the way up, but sometimes you have to touch down before you can truly ascend up. In the case of Khan, had he not lost the way he did, Roach wouldn’t be part of his team, and neither would Ariza. That tandem has gelled very well with him and pretty much taken him to another level.
All that being said, many know how I feel about the “swingin’ pendulum” in the sport. As soon as a fighter, (particularly a young one on the rise), has a strong performance against someone with notoriety, that fighter immediately is viewed by the media and most fans as “the next best” and in a few cases we’ve seen that, but to the level many try to predict, quite rare, and I’d like to say it’s far too early for us to ordain Khan a “King” when he still hasn’t really beaten an A-level fighter in their prime. Maidana is the closest he has come, and not only was that an ugly performance in which he took far too many shots, but Maidana is not a skilled fighter, and neither is he truly an A-level fighter.
I love what I see in Khan and I will continue to promote his talent in any and every way possible, but it should be noted that this is still a fighter with much to prove. Khan has 27 fights and 129 rounds boxed. That’s all. When you look at the rising crop of fighters around the sport, we can rank him somewhere at the top of the pack, but to say he’s a world-class elite level fighter on that level which remains a cut above the rest? I’m not ready to say that and I would stop anyone else in my presence from doing so.
I would like to see him go north to 147 to see how he handles the power of men who fight at the welterweight limit, yet enter the ring unofficially on fight night closer to 160+lbs. That’s the class he’ll be expected to prove his mettle against if he ultimately plans on facing the Mayweathers of the world. The only fight on the radar that I’d like to see him take at 140 is Timothy Bradley, but I don’t think we ever get to see that fight. Bradley had good business reasons for declining the fight before, but I just don’t see Bradley having enough power to defeat Khan. His only chance is his tenacity which could keep Khan off balance.
What makes that intriguing is the fact that Khan would have to do something we haven’t seen him do much of: In-round adjustments. Although I lean to Khan strongly in that fight, I think this particular subplot would make it interesting because that’s one of the few elements of Khan’s game that hasn’t been polished yet. He didn’t adjust against Maidana. When he saw Prescott swinging wildly in their affair he didn’t adjust there either before it was too late. We need to see if he’s turned the corner on that particular attribute. Bradley would test it. If he conquers that, I think we can say perhaps he’s ready for the next step. Until then…..he’s an incredibly solid prospect on the rise. Nothing more.
Alex G. (London, UK): I noticed that the American media seems to be warming up to the possibility of Khan facing Mayweather. If Mayweather is victorious against Ortiz, do you think this fight happens next, and who do you like if it does?
Vivek W. (ESB): Yes, I think there’s a strong reason the Mayweather/Khan fight would happen if Mayweather defeats Ortiz and Pacquiao doesn’t agree to testing. As a matter of fact, I’d go out on a limb and say that will be the next fight for Mayweather if he defeats Ortiz and Pacquiao starts stuttering at the negotiating table. What’s there not to like about the fight for Mayweather? Since the Hatton affair when better than 5,000 fight fans showed up to see him train, Mayweather has been in absolute awe of the love received from British fight fans, and has vowed to one day put on a show in Wimbley Stadium.
Anyone not sure about how strong the odds of this fight happening are need to look no further than his open workout last week that was done specifically for British media and British fight fans present for the Khan/Judah fight. He opened the door to that market for one reason and one reason only. Yes, there is a HUGE chance this fight gets made, and I’d advise everyone to stay tuned.
Before I get into who I like in such a fight, I should first drop this bombshell. The only way this fight doesn’t happen is if things get sticky with Freddie Roach. Remember, Roach trains Pacquiao too, and it would be awfully hypocritical to have one pupil take a full randomized drug test for Mayweather, while his most prized pupil who has defied all human logic in some respects refuses. There’s no way to address that question, and he’d be asked every day leading up to the fight.
Now, regarding who wins…….At this stage it’s safe to say experience, talent, etc would go to Mayweather in an easy call. But youth, length, and a very intelligent trainer would make it very intriguing, and Mayweather would have to be on top of his game if he plans to get the nod in such an affair. Not sure if we’ll see this fight, but a decisive Khan victory over Bradley would definitely set the table. Drug test request would be the only caveat. Or then again, maybe not, because Khan would do it. Perhaps who his trainer would be is the only caveat, because I don’t see Roach selling Pacquiao out that way, or attempting to explain why it’s good for one man and not the other for an entire training camp.
Marcus E. (Atlanta, GA): I felt coming into the fight that Judah would do well, but it wasn’t his night. Where do you think Zab Judah goes from here?
Vivek W. (ESB): Zab Judah can continue to fight B-level fighters with decent success, but he’ll remain at that level. Coming into this fight I told many people that as much as I liked the “new” Judah, and as inspired as I was by his confidence level, I couldn’t truly be sold on it because I still haven’t seen it displayed where it would count most: the ring! Just like in the past, Judah showed flashes, but when he realized the man in front of him didn’t come to lay down, he decided to. Honestly, it was very disappointing, but not something I didn’t expect. As I posted on my Facebook page: “Some are orange, some are white, but can’t no tiger lose his stripes”! He is who we thought he was.
Some have tried to blame the trainer (Whitaker), others have said it was the headbutt, others have even gone on record to say it was simply not his night. My response? 7 times in his career he faced a game who wouldn’t lay down, and each of those 7 times he walked away with an “L” because he didn’t have that “X” factor to overcome. It was great to see the invested time by people great at what they do like Whitaker and Conte, but of all the help Judah had, the one thing he needed most was the one thing man can’t give another man. That’s heart.
I love Judah’s talent and wish him the best, but being realistic, I think we’ve simply seen him reach the highest level we’ll see from him in the sport. Former champ, once a perennial talent, but currently reduced to a window shopper that will get to the store, but won’t walk out with the bags! I’ll continue to support him, but this is where the championship level stops. I don’t know where he goes next, but out of sheer curiousity, I’d love to see him go back to ’47 and finally take that fight against Mosley. Another window shopper who let us know in so many ways that his buck stops here. Stay tuned.
Charles B. (Manhattan, NYC): I predict Tyson Fury will be the future of the heavyweight division. How do you think he’ll fare at this stage of his career against the Klitschko brothers?
Vivek W. (ESB): I like Fury, I like what he brings to the sport, and I love how he represents his country…..but that being said…..let one truth ring loud and clear: “HE WILL NOT BEAT EITHER OF THE K-BROS”. Period. He doesn’t seem to possess the speed or athleticism. I have questions about the overall legacy of the K-Bros, but I’m a realist and I think those reading my work should see it reflect that. Bottom line, the K-Bros are the most dominant force in today’s heavyweight division and no one on the current horizon do I see challenging them. The ones with the talent lack the heart. The ones with the heart lack the talent.
The one heavyweight who I know has the heart, simply doesn’t have the experience yet (Amir Monsour). He’s the only heavyweight today who would simply not be intimidated and would come in and rather go out on his shield and empty his clip before falling. In the words of the legendary “Iron” Mike Tyson: “The only two options in a fight is to seek and destroy or surrender. If you don’t come to destroy the opposition, you only have one option left…..surrender”. Right now no one on the current landscape but the unproven and somewhat untested Monsour has that element. Fury may have it as well, but he’s too slow skill limited to truly give the K-Bros a run for their money.
I could be wrong, but in watching a ton of fight footage on Fury and seeing him in action a few times, I see too many openings for a fast athletic fighter like Wladimir and Vitali to exploit. Fury will make some good money, but if you want to see the future of British Boxing on a global level, keep an eye on Khan. He’s the closest to that figure on the market.
(Vivek “Vito” Wallace can be reached at vivexmail@yahoo.com, Youutbe (Vivek1251), Twitter (VivekWallace747), Skype (Vito-Boxing) and FaceBook).