Safe Side Of The Ropes

By: Andrew Harrison

May 14 2010

Category: Uncategorized

3 Comments

One of the chief criticisms levelled against Britain’s Amir Khan, is that the lightning quick light welterweight titlist has avoided big hitters like the plague since Breidis Prescott almost decapitated him in Manchester 20 months ago. This Saturday’s fight with Paulie Malignaggi will do nothing to help his argument either, with the brash New Yorker falling very comfortably into the ‘feather fisted’ variety of fighters.

Despite Paulie’s lack of pop, the fight will allow us to evaluate Khan’s progress under the teachings of Freddie Roach far more readily than we were allowed to last time he was out of the traps, when he annihilated the unbeaten but untested Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle.

Malignaggi is quick, savvy and tough. The heir to the throne of the Hector Camacho and Naz Hamed school of trash talking, Malignaggi has exchanged barbs with Khan throughout the build up, via social networking site Twitter. He appears to have whipped himself into fantastic condition physically, whilst mentally, he will be steeling himself to protect his rep on home turf against the invading young upstart. The home fighter Malignaggi, has put together a record of 27-3 (5) and is ranked the world’s fifth best light welter by Ring magazine.

“The Magic Man” has come up short on his two biggest nights. He was dropped in the second round en route to a unanimous decision loss at the hands of  Miguel Cotto in 2006 and, after clawing his way back into title contention, took another thumping from division champ Ricky Hatton in Manchester 18 months ago. He has since dropped a points verdict to Juan Diaz (one he fiercely contested) which was avenged last time out, in one of his finest performances to date.

His record suggests that he can outpoint a level of fighter a notch or two lower than the elite, with the likes of Edner Cherry, Lovemore N’Dou and Herman Ngoudjo comfortably dealt with.

Question is, which level does Khan belong?

Ridiculously talented, the young speed demon has a record so full of holes, it merits a visit to the cotton mills of his home town for some much needed patch work. Fed a diet of undersized and outgunned men on his way up, he’s been matched ever so carefully since the Prescott debacle.With his confidence seemingly restored under Roach and after an extended stint at Freddie’s L.A. sweat shop, Khan was skilfully steered towards a WBA title tilt at 140 lbs, against the sturdy if unspectacular Ukrainian, Andriy Kotelnik. He proved his mettle somewhat in pulling out a unanimous decision win and has defended once since, against poor Salita. He stands at 22-1 (16) and is rated third at the weight.

Khan has been schooled to protect his chin throughout his recent rebuilding programme, yet with the prospect of fielding power shots severely diminished, can he box unhindered and with the shackles off in this one?

Perhaps not. Although Malignaggi has the poorest knockout ratio in world class boxing, his record suggests that he carries a smidgen more TNT in his mitts than former Khan opponent, Willie Limond. The Scot almost brought Amir’s parade to a halt over a year before the guillotine eventually fell on him, after tallying just eight stoppages from 29 bouts. It was a succession of accurate, crisp shots that almost did for the young starlet, a reminder that speed and timing can discombobulate a fighter just as effectively as crunching power.

Former British stand out Nigel Benn for example, was able to stand up to the hammers of Chris Eubank in their rematch, and sluggers like Henry Wharton and Gerald McClellan, yet he was thumped onto queer street by fast, snappy non-punchers such as Mauro Galvano and Danny Ray Perez, and was also buzzed by the Italian pacifist, Vincenzo Nardiello. A reminder then, that it isn’t always a searing haymaker which puts out the lights.

Roach will continue to keep Khan on the leash, which should turn this one into a straight up fencing contest. Under those conditions, there aren’t many I’d fancy against Amir and I can see him thoroughly outboxing Malignaggi throughout. With both men possessing plenty of quickness, we could be in for a game of high stakes speed chess, yet Khan is younger, quicker and throws more punches in bunches.

Checkmate then. Khan can win a handy unanimous decision.

Betting on an Amir victory outright shows at a teensy 1/6, with Paulie a huge underdog out at 4/1.

Incredibly, the fight goes out on network television, with ITV screening live.

Victor Ortiz v Nate Campbell

An intriguing battle beneath the Khan-Malignaggi main event, features two men in search of redemption and looking to grasp it against one another.

Victor Ortiz is the explosive prodigy Golden Boy had groomed to replace old smiley chops himself, after he’d swapped the sweat suit for a shirt and tie. Talented, personable and with a face made for the tube, he very quickly roared up the 140lb rankings with a series of exciting performances.

Unfortunately for Ortiz and the money men, “Vicious” Victor ran into the thunder fisted Marcos Maidana, who weathered the best the Oxnard native had to dish out before returning fire with interest. Ortiz more or less gave up the ghost in the sixth, further alienating fans with a strange post fight interview where he admitted as much; a cardinal sin for fighting men. The 23 year old Ortiz currently stands at 26-2-1 (21) after a brace of comeback wins.

Campbell is the gnarled old warrior standing between Ortiz and acceptance. “The Galaxy Warrior” is a former lightweight titlist who holds good wins over men like Ali Funeka and Juan Diaz. In his last outing he was accused of looking for a way out of the fight after clunking heads with Timothy Bradley (after being cut over the left eye, the bout was eventually ruled a no contest). He too will be looking to make amends yet at 38 years old, after a fight career reading 33-5-1 (25), he has it all to do.

Their coming together should result in an entertaining little scrap, yet Ortiz holds the physical advantages which should allow him to put his name back in the frame to face Khan. Using good foot speed and his patented, arrowed left hands thrown from the southpaw stance, Ortiz can outbox Campbell early before turning the screw late to register a stoppage win.

Ortiz starts favourite with Sky Bet at 8/13, whilst Campbell can be backed from around 6/5.