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For the past two years Amir Khan has faced words of warning and even criticism from some quarters for trying to do two things in particular: 1) trying to fight the pound for pound King in Floyd Mayweather 2) trying to fight the most vicious KO artist of the 21st century in Manny Pacquaio. For whatever reasons these fights didn’t come to fruition. One thing's for certain, it wasn't because of Amir’s lack of trying. In an age of boxing were many fighters seem to be avoiding one another, depriving fans of the best matches, why on earth would we discourage or even criticise Khan for wanting to fight the best?
Although he hasn’t actually fought since last May that hasn't stopped Khan from talking the talk and I mean talking a lot. We all have that “friend” who is forever telling us that they will 'soon' be driving the new BMW, they 'will' go and talk to the cute blonde at the bar 'just' as soon as they finish their drink, scored a 30-yard screamer at the weekend, but you never ever get to see it! You get my point..show us, stop telling us.
On top of this styles make fights; Khan is known unfortunately for his inability to take a punch. Floyd for all of his supremacy is everything but a power puncher. Manny hasn’t been on the right side of a KO for nearly 6 years. Even the most optimistic of us can understand why Amir would want to fight these 2 greats now, a huge payday and a chance (however small) to become a British legend.
However the moment he signed on the dotted line to fight one Saul Canelo Alvarez (the middleweight, 32 KO’s, only one loss to FMJ) everything changed. This is no longer about wanting a pay day, although that still may come. This is about Amir Khan wanting to show the world he truly is number one and he could beat the aforementioned kings. This is the sporting equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid to play for Amir Khan’s beloved Bolton Wanderers to prove that he can change the fate of any team he plays for. The only difference is if Khan is proven wrong he doesn’t lose a football match he loses consciousness.
Anyone who has laced up their gloves and made that long walk will tell you Amir Khan deserves respect regardless of the outcome. Professionals and pundits alike will tell you this has all the ingredients to be an incredible, perhaps short yet still thrilling boxing match.
As a boxing journalist and fan, I for one am excited to see a British underdog not only take on the current P4P number one but to step up in weight to do so. He has to face a style which he has been told to avoid his whole career. Any man prepared to face all of these hurdles deserves, at the very least, the support of his countrymen. Let's hope come May 7th Amir Khan gets just that.
