source: boxingnews24.comFreddie Roach has big dreams for his fighter WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (25-1, 17 KO’s). Roach’s grand vision is for Khan to beat WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) to unify the titles, and then move up in weight to the welterweight division and immediately go after Manny Pacquiao.
This was a fight that was thought to be impossible due to the friendship between Khan and Pacquiao, but it looks Roach wants that fight to happen anyway. Khan has been talking long and hard about moving up to welterweight to try and fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, Khan has been ignored by Mayweather completely and there are a lot of doubts whether Mayweather will ever seriously consider facing the British star.
This may be the reason why Roach is hoping to get Khan and Pacquiao in the ring together. It would be the best of both worlds for Roach, because he trains both fighters. In one respect Roach would be forced to make a decision about which fighter he would be training for the fight and working the corner. However, I’m sure there wouldn’t be too many complaints from the fighter that’s not being trained by Roach, since he’ll get the big payday.
This could be Khan’s only real chance of getting a mega payday before he gets knocked out again and forced back into the domestic level. With Mayweather totally uninterested in fighting Khan, it leaves only Pacquiao. Other welterweights like Victor Ortiz, Shane Mosley and Andre Berto aren’t big enough stars for Khan to get the mega-money that he dreams of. Besides, those guys would have an excellent chance of knocking Khan out and ruining his hopes – slim as they are – of getting a fight against Mayweather.
Speaking with thesun.co.uk, Roach said “I want Amir to unify the light-welterweight division by taking on WBC and WBO champ Timothy Bradley. Then I want him to move up to 147lbs and take on the big guys for big money. That’s the plan we are working on. I know Tim Bradley well and he is one hell of a fighter, but I would put Amir in with him tomorrow and expect my boxer to win. Their fight will determine who is the best at 140lbs and then the winner should go up to 147 and take on Manny Pacquiao. That is my feeling.”
Roach probably can convince Pacquiao to take the fight. That’s not the problem, though. They would have to talk Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum into making the fight, and unless he’s willing to put together a non in house fight, this bout won’t happen. Khan fights for Golden Boy Promotions and Arum would have to forget his past differences with them for this fight to go ahead.
None of this will matter if Khan gets knocked cold by Bradley in July. That’s a real toss-up fight because both Khan and Bradley looked horrible in their last fights. They’re two flawed fighters in a weak division. Neither would likely do much at welterweight, and that’s where Khan would be headed next if he wins.
Khan looked terrible against his hand-picked opponent Paul McCloskey last Saturday night, winning by an unimpressive 6th round technical decision after a clash opened up a cut over McCloskey’s left eye. Khan was loudly booed by the fans while raising his hands in victory. Khan seemed startled by the boos, as if he were expecting cheering. Fans had paid their hard-earned money to watch a fight that lacked drama and competitiveness. Khan had promised a sensational ending and failed to deliver one against someone he should have been able to easily beat.
source: boxingnews24.com
No comments:
Post a Comment