There are a lot of ifs in that equation though; injury could occur, potential promotional problems & the results would have to go the way they hope. I realise the reason for making the strategy public, it has received a lot of coverage in the media and put Khan back in the limelight but personally I find long term plans such as these slightly arrogant and presumptuous. I found it irritating that all the media reports focused exclusively on the Mayweather clash ,with Judah, Morales & Brook afforded barely a passing mention. As things stand Khan would start favourite in all these potential match ups but things can change quickly in boxing.
Judah has looked an improved fighter since dropping back down to light welterweight, he is vastly experienced & seems to have finally matured. His power will be a threat early on, but after 15 years as a pro including six losses, he is nearing the end and I'd expect Khan to be too fresh & too fast
Speaking of how circumstances can change quickly, the view before Mexican legend Erik Morales was due to meet Marcos Maidana in April was that it was a terrible match up that could see the veteran seriously injured. Morales had retired in 2007 after losing 5 of his last 6 contests as time seemed to have caught up on him. He returned last year at a low level, 2 weight divisions up from his prime, while Maidana impressed in his narrow defeat to Khan, almost stopping the champion in the 10th round. However the worries that the hard hitting Maidana would destroy a shopworn & out of shape Morales turned out to be false as, although he lost on a majority decision, Morales put in his best display in years, using his skill & experience to make Maidana appear a crude & limited slugger.
Despite that excellent display, he still isn't getting younger & the Maidana fight may have been one last hurrah in a superb career that saw Morales become a seven time world champion. I'd imagine Khan's speed would be too much for him at this stage & he'd join his great rival Marco Antonio Barrera on the Bolton's man list of 'past their best' victims.
So assuming everything has been going along smoothly, the plan would then be a War of the Roses meeting with Sheffield's Kell Brook. This would be different as it would match Khan with an unbeaten fighter his own age, who can also match him for speed. Brook has been tipped for the top for a number of years but frustratingly he appeared to have been held back, matched far too cautiously & not tested. A recent change in promoters, moving to Matchroom, appears to have kick started his career & I thought he was very impressive in the recent victory over Lovemore N'dou. He may not have become the first man to stop N'dou but he hurt him more than I can recall seeing anyone else do previously, he paced himself perfectly as he went twelve rounds for the first time & showed a lovely variation of attack.
I'm hoping that up to this point things do go as they've been planned as a Khan-Brook fight has the potential to be a massive domestic clash; they have already started a war of words over Twitter with Khan contemptuous of his rival's ability. Brook needs a couple of challenging fights beforehand to test him further & improve his marketability but I believe he has the ability & the belief to not only push Khan but to beat him. Which means we're not going to get to Mayweather....
Having said all this, now watch Judah knock out Khan in round one & Brook get pummeled by an unknown east European.....
No comments:
Post a Comment