Maidana looms large over Khan
Date: 30th March 2010 at 4:30 pm
The whole interim champion, champion, super champion thing was always a terrible concept. It just creates confusion and frankly is another scheme of boxing’s governing bodies to make money but with the WBA junior welterweight title picture we could be in for a treat.
Last year when unheralded Marcos Maidana blasted Golden Boy prospect Victor Ortiz into submission for the WBA interim junior welterweight title it forced the boxing world to take notice. It was made even more interesting by the fact that the following month Amir Khan beat Andreas Kotelnik to win the full version of the belt.
It would have been assumed that the next logical fight would be Maidana vs Khan but after such a destructive victory over Ortiz, Freddie Roach was less than enthusiastic when faced with the prospect of the fight and even talked about vacating the newly won title.
This year when it was announced that Khan had signed with Golden Boy Promotions and was looking to make his debut in America, people again wondered if a fight with Maidana could be made but again he was over looked this time in favour of light punching Paulie Malignaggi.
This Saturday Maidana punched his way out of contention with an impressive 6 round demolition of Victor Cayo. Although Cayo showed guts, Maidana’s heavy hands wore him down and eventually put him down for 10 with a mean body shot.
It’s no secret that Amir Khan doesn’t have the best chin in the game, Breidis Prescott demonstrated that in 2008, and putting Khan in with such a dangerous puncher like Maidana could amount to career suicide. Maidana (who is co promoted by Golden Boy) has already destroyed one of Oscar De La Hoya’s prospects and with the big plans he has for Khan it is unlikely that he or Roach will agree to a fight.
There is talk of step aside money and a clause that will allow Khan to avoid Maidana for 3 fights but there is only so long he can avoid the Argentine. Whilst stable mate Pacquiao chases immortality by facing the best, Khan, who they claim will be ready for the likes of Pacquiao and Mayweather in 18 months, is avoiding fighters already.
Maidana is slowly building a reputation for himself and performances like the one he put on on Saturday night wont hurt. If Khan really wants to break the American market and validate himself as a proper fighter I suggest he bites the bullet and faces El Chino, it is a fight people will want to see and win or lose people will respect him for taking it.
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