Amir Khan All Set For WBA Title Unification Against Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas

Added on Dec 08, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

Even before this fight was officially announced WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan and interim title holder Marcos Maidana traded their share of verbal jabs. In the weeks leading up to the bout as they were required to participate in various media functions the war of words continued. Finally, after all sorts of build up from both fighters, we sit just days removed from their much anticipated 12 round Las Vegas showdown which takes place this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

After a brilliant amateur career highlighted by a Silver Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens, Amir “King” Khan turned pro in 2005 and quickly became a star in his native England. Over the course of the next three years the Bolton born fighter racked up wins all over the UK amassing 18 wins before running into hard hitting Colombian Bredis Prescott who shocked Khan by stopping him in less than a minute of action. The stunning loss served as a wake up call for Khan, and also led some observers wondering just how well Khan would be able to take a punch as his career progressed.

“Losing to Prescott made me realize how serious boxing is…I needed to train harder,” Khan stated in a Los Angeles press conference.

After the Prescott debacle, not only was Khan trainer harder, but he was doing so with famed trainer Freddie Roach honing his skills while getting world class sparring that he had been missing out on in previous camps.

“When people say I have a weak chin, I respond by saying that Pacquiao gave me his best shot and couldn’t wobble me,” says Khan.

The results immediately paid off as he rebounded with quick wins over Oisin Fagan followed by a technical decision nod over the legendary but faded Marco Antonio Barrera.

The Barrera victory set Khan up for a 2009 showdown with then WBA junior welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik. At the end of 12 hard fought rounds all three judges scored the bout in favor of Khan. Since winning the title, Khan has made two defenses resulting in first round and eleventh round TKO’s against Dmitry Salita and Paulie Malignaggi, respectively. The Malignaggi bout served as Khan’s United Stated debut.

“Amir Khan showed his tremendous skill and power…he made an amazing first impression here in the United States in May. With Amir’s size, his speed, his power…he really is the total package,” stated Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.

Going from Malignaggi to Maidana in terms of opponents is night and day as Malignaggi is a slickster regarded as a light hitter while Maidana is known for his heavy hands. Khan plans on fighting fire with fire come Saturday night.

He explains, “I’m going do something different in this fight, something nobody’s ever seen me do. I’m changing my style. I’m going to come in and be the big puncher. This fight, is going to be explosive.”

Early 2011 will feature a huge matchup for the division as WBC king Devon Alexander takes on WBO top dog Timothy Bradley. It’s no doubt a fight that Khan will be keeping an eye on while hoping to face the winner to cement himself as the division’s greatest.

“Maidana is a big name. If I want to unify the division I have to fight the best. I believe if you want to be known as a great fighter you have to clean up divisions and that’s what I’m going to do.”

But first he must unify the WBA belts against the interim champ in Maidana which will be no easy feat.