By James Slater: As soon as news broke telling us how Erik Morales was in need of a new opponent for his Sept. 17th clash due to original foe Lucas Mattyhsse falling out with a virus, fans on this web site made it clear the man they’d like to see take the Argentine’s place was WBA and IBF 140-pound king Amir Khan.
Such a late replacement was never going to happen, of course – due in large part to the fact that Khan is a star now and would not want to fight on anyone’s under-card. But Khan has just a few minutes ago announced how he is wowed at the fact that Marcos Maidana “refused” the spot that has now as we know been taken by 21-year-old Mexican contender Pablo Cesar Cano.
“Wow, Maidana refuses to fight Morales on the Mayweather[Ortiz card, I’d jump at that chance, how could you say no to the WBC world title?,” Khan wrote on his Twitter page.
Does Khan feel it necessary to have a pop at Maidana every chance he gets, or is he lamenting the fact that Morales never wanted to fight him – at any time this year, let alone next week? Khan has said a number of fighters at 140 are reluctant to fight him (“maybe they are scared?” Khan said recently) and this includes Morales. But Khan cannot be overly critical of Maidana, who has, after all, got a fight of his own now set in his homeland.
Would Khan really “jump at the chance” if he was in Maidana’s shoes? Was the short notice fight even offered to Khan? I myself think it’s strange that Khan would be wowed at Maidana saying no thanks to a second, short notice fight with Morales.
Let’s see now what the hard-hitting Argentine says by way of a reply on his own Twitter page. Is another war of words about to erupt between the two fighters who have no love for one another!
A number of fans feel Khan and Maidana have unfinished business due to their first fight being so hard and so close (and due to what some people feel was overly pro-Khan officiating by ref Joe Cortez). Instead of bashing each other with words, the two top 140-pounders should agree to get it on in the ring a second time. Maidana says wants a return, will Khan give him one?