Amir Khan to fight......

[Doc_Piptorious]

Vanes Martirosyan? His opponents are equally questionable and the most rounds he has boxed in a fight as a pro is 6.

His last 3 opponents:

Edgar Reyes - 10 wins and 7 defeats in 17 fights

Marcus Brooks - 6 wins and 3 defeats in 9 fights

Oscar Gonzalez - 9 wins, 7 defeats and 1 draw in 17 fights

Hardly an impressive list of opponents is it? Don't let the bright lights of Vegas dazzle your judgement. I would rate Khan higher than both the fighters you named.

I think we should agree to disagree on this one.

Dazzled by the bright lights of Vegas? Hardly, training fighters is my bread and butter. Khan is a kid with talent who the British media and Frank Warren have done their usual trick of conning the mainstream public into thinking that the latest up and coming fighter is a legend in the making. More talented kids than Khan have failed in the past. Khan will not fail, in the sense that Warren will get him a title shot, and he will avoid genuine threats on his way to that title shot.

From a coaching point of view, Khan has been regressing slowly in the ring, at a time when a young fighter should be doing quite the opposite.


My opinion on Martirosyan has been formed from watching him fight in the flesh, watching him on tape, and from what I have been told by guys who see him train at the Wild Card Boxing club. He is being coached by the man I used to do sparring work for, Freddie Roach.

It speaks volumes that a trainer like Roach went after Martirosyan, whilst Khan got Oliver Harrison, a good trainer, but one who doesn't get into the camps of top fighters or top prospects. Khan did not get offers from the top level of coaches, and a lot of that has to do with Warren. It raised eyebrows at the time in boxing circles, but is now meet with wry nods.


I have strong views on boxing and on how it is managed/run behind the scenes, and because of this, I can be quite set in my opinions on it. Doesn't make my opinion the right or wrong view for somebody else, just makes for some debate.

[Tee]

Dazzled by the bright lights of Vegas? Hardly, training fighters is my bread and butter. Khan is a kid with talent who the British media and Frank Warren have done their usual trick of conning the mainstream public into thinking that the latest up and coming fighter is a legend in the making. More talented kids than Khan have failed in the past. Khan will not fail, in the sense that Warren will get him a title shot, and he will avoid genuine threats on his way to that title shot.

From a coaching point of view, Khan has been regressing slowly in the ring, at a time when a young fighter should be doing quite the opposite.


My opinion on Martirosyan has been formed from watching him fight in the flesh, watching him on tape, and from what I have been told by guys who see him train at the Wild Card Boxing club. He is being coached by the man I used to do sparring work for, Freddie Roach.

It speaks volumes that a trainer like Roach went after Martirosyan, whilst Khan got Oliver Harrison, a good trainer, but one who doesn't get into the camps of top fighters or top prospects. Khan did not get offers from the top level of coaches, and a lot of that has to do with Warren. It raised eyebrows at the time in boxing circles, but is now meet with wry nods.

I thought you were involved in the sport. You obviously have hands on knowledge so there is little point in me trying to convince you otherwise about Khan. I just hope he proves his doubters wrong when it matters.

I am astonished you say that Khan did not get any offers from the top coaches - I would have thought that after watching his Olympic performances there would have been a queue for his signature.

If you don't mind me asking, where do you train fighters? UK or US? And I would be interested in your professional opinion of Naseem Hamed - out of his depth or did he lose focus?

[Doc_Piptorious]

I thought you were involved in the sport. You obviously have hands on knowledge so there is little point in me trying to convince you otherwise about Khan. I just hope he proves his doubters wrong when it matters.

I am astonished you say that Khan did not get any offers from the top coaches - I would have thought that after watching his Olympic performances there would have been a queue for his signature.

If you don't mind me asking, where do you train fighters? UK or US? And I would be interested in your professional opinion of Naseem Hamed - out of his depth or did he lose focus?

As of last month, I have gone back into training/coaching fulltime for boxers in the paid ranks. I am based in Ireland, and can work from here, as I have a small gym/training area on my property now which has approx 3,000 sq feet of gymspace, plenty big for one on one training sessions,but am mainly dealing with fighters who are based in the US and/or are managed by promoters there. This is because my ties/contacts are stronger on that side of the pond. I do get around the UK a bit though, mostly checking out undercard matches, and sometimes going to training sessions.


Hamed. I think he is an obnoxious little sod, but the guy did have genuine ability. Speed, reflexes, good power and a decent chin. But Warren and then his brothers ruined him. He started to believe his own hype and what he was being told about himself. When his ties with Ingle were severed, then there was nobody around him that would stand up to him and give him a bollocking when needed. His training became slipshod, and he just about got through fights when he should have won with ease if his preperations were right. Barrera would have beaten him either way though, I think. Barrera was a rare class of fighter, one who was even better than he is/was rated, which is saying something. Heaps of ability, crazy amount of heart, and my god did he like a fight. Tactically he had a good mind also.

[Tee]

I loved Naseem - apart from being immensely talented, he was an entertainer.

I wish he fought Barrera maybe a year or so before he did. Hamed lost his hunger and seemed content with the fortune he had amassed. Took his eye off the ball - lethal.

Sad waste of talent IMHO. I do respect him though for his heart, because despite being totally outboxed by Barrera he stayed on his feet - reminded me of Jake La Motta v Sugar Ray Robinson from Raging Bull- "You never got me down Ray... You never got me down".

I hav eloved boxing from an early age and follow the British fighters when I can. I used to enjoy watching Lloyd "Don't take no prisoners" Honeyghan back in the day - LOL.

[kurtangle01]

Please can someone name a better 20 year old fighter anywhere around the world.

Andre Berto. This lad has the lot.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Andre Berto. This lad has the lot.

He is older than 20 though, think he is 24 or pretty close to it. Looks like he has quite a future in the game though. There is a string of potentially good fighters between the ages of 20 and 25 coming through the ranks at the moment. Quite a lot of welterweights and middleweights coming through. One or two heavys who look like they may be good too.

[Hollowman]

Watch Naseem's footwork in his fights after he left Ingle. That's where his problems were.

[spud_gun]

The only time Willie Limond has lost has been the only time he's fought decent opposition. He was TKO'edin the 8th round by a 15 fight Alex Arthur. Arthur went on to lose his next fight to the average Michael Gomez.

Gomez battered Arthur somthing silly in that fight. A vicious boxing match from what i can remember of it.