Khan-Peterson

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Predictions?

I want Peterson to win but head says Khan will be too much for the guy.

Anyone think Peterson can make it as tough as he did last time and possible win?

Lamont Peterson says Amir Khan can only fight one way

Lamont Peterson says Amir Khan is incapable of altering his game-plan for their May rematch and that his British rival is mentally "all over the place".

American Peterson beat Khan on a split decision last December, after which Khan claimed he had been robbed of his WBA and IBF light-welterweight belts.

And Peterson added that Khan's pronouncements had only succeeded in piling extra pressure on himself.

"He'll do what he always does, he always fights the same," said Peterson.

"He's either straight forward or straight back. That's the way he fights, he's not going to change it.

"The way the fight went the first time, I was pretty comfortable with it. I won the fight so I really don't want to change anything."

Khan's trainer Freddie Roach has promised his charge will employ different tactics for the return bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on 19 May.

In the first fight, Khan found himself fighting off the ropes for sustained periods, allowing the challenger to work to the body and eventually leading to a two-point deduction for pushing.

But while Peterson admits the choice of referee could prove crucial, he is confident he is versatile enough to adapt whoever is chosen.

Veteran official Joe Cortez, who has a reputation for preventing inside fighting, is widely expected to take charge of the rematch.

Peterson, 28, told BBC Sport: "His strategy [in the first fight] was to hit and move and I didn't allow him to do it. It won't be any different this time. He'll hit and move and I'll stay close and smother him.

"If the ref knows the difference between a foul and a push, then I'll be OK with that. But if he doesn't know the difference between a push and an elbow, I'll have a problem with that.

"The referee we had [Joe Cooper] allowed me to fight out of clinches, and I liked that, that tends to favour my style.

"If he calls break every time we get on the inside, then I'll have to change my strategy and do something different, anything I need to do to win the fight.

"The referee will be key but I'm not worried about it either way, I'll win the fight, I'll do what I have to do.

"I'll be relaxed like I always am in the ring, but he's putting a lot of pressure on himself, saying he won the last fight, saying he's going to change this and that for the next fight.

"He's still out there saying he's the champ, but he's not. He's all over the place. Really, I don't know what to make of him.

"If he fights on after he loses to me, he's going to lose to average fighters, not just world champions. People need to see what you can do, not just hear what you can do."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/17687155

Cortez is good at shouting break everytime the fighters look like clinching or getting close, probably why he's the ref.

Didn't do it for hopkins/calzaghe though. Although hoppo is goldenboy member. I imagine Khan wont need him though as he isnt even going to allow him close if roach has anything to say about it.

Unless Khan takes Peterson out early he will tire in the later rounds. Peterson will then be able to work, this is where Amir will have hoped he had trained to defend himself rather than relying on running away. I don't think Amir Khan was under prepped in the first fight just think he was suprised in the change of tactics. He very well could change his ways and box a better fight if he does i'll give him the respect he's due. I agree with Lamont though in that he only knows one way to fight, hit and run in straight lines.

LP makes a valid point but at this stage its all mind games being played and not to be taken seriously. If he expects Khan to fight the same way he will be in for a painful night.

All in all, I believe LP will win because he is the better fighter with more variable skills.

azania wrote:LP makes a valid point but at this stage its all mind games being played and not to be taken seriously. If he expects Khan to fight the same way he will be in for a painful night.

All in all, I believe LP will win because he is the better fighter with more variable skills.

I think Amir uses his legs far too much in the early rounds instead of trying to keep distance with the jab, he then tries to use his legs later in a fight to get him out of trouble and he can't, hence why he always ends up on the ropes. I think Roach is going to get him to dance all night instead of improving his defense.

I think LP was correct when he said Khan attacks and retreats in straight lines. It makes it easy to close the distance and negate his speed advantage and exposes his lack of in fighting.

Can he change? If he does he wins. I dont believe he will and he will revert to old ways. Say what you will about Khan, he is a very hard worker and very fit. But his lack of general intelligence will be his undoing.

I have to agree with you Azania, on his ring intelligence, but I wonder if thats not down to his exclusive training in that style and perhaps he might learn the trade somewhere else - somewhere with Steward etc. Although steward dedicates most of his time to Wlad so the time might prevent it. Rooney drilled Tyson to his magnificent best but he had a knowledge of boxing unrivalled by his peers. For Khan it doesnt seem to be working.

Perhaps virgil hunter, who would teach him the subtlties of defense, even if he cant turn into a wizard, he can solidify his jab and learn to both pick his shots and not get into a position where he cant see half the punches coming at him. Gets hit far too much for someone so quick.

I've said mny times that Steward would be the best trainer to utilise Khan many attributes. But one thing Manny knows is how to teach any fighter to be able to jab with authority. Look at what he did to Andries.

Either that or Buddy McGirt who is a brilliant coach and his tutoring of Gatti (RIP) did wonders for him.

If Khan can't get Peterson out in the first 6,that's when Khan starts to 2nd guess what to do and it isn't good.

If Khan jabs and moves and uses his speed I think he wins comfortably,if he doesn't then its going to be another hard night for him.

Roach is fine for Khan. Why try to turn him into something he isnt?

Not many thought Gatti could be a slick(ish) boxer until McGrit converted him. Khan has the basic tools and needs a trainer to bring it out with more consistency. I dont think Roach is the man. Many of his fighters throw flurries and then retreat. Khan needs to throw the jab with authority and have better footwork.

Gatti is more than the exception than the rule though. And I dont think he became as slick as hes credited with sometimes. I see it as he became less crude rather than slick.

I think Khans style plays to his strengths. If I were to work on something it would be his movement to keep him off the ropes. If he becomes a jabber then I think he just invites pressure onto him which is where his biggest weakness lies. Concentrate on hitting and moving where he holds a big advantage in handspeed normally.

Hence why is said slick(ish). If did result in him having an easier time against Ward in their rematch.

I disagree re Khan. I believe he needs to have a more imposing jab to keep pressure fighters off him. But relying solely on handspeed and movement, he will fall victim to someone who is effective at cutting off the ring. Throwing rapid flurries and moving away plays into the pressure fighter's game.

Wouldnt neccessarily agree that that ambush style fighting plays into the hands of a pressure fighter. Khans problems in that respect is he doesnt get out quickly enough and stands in front of his opponent covering up rather than moving away quickly.

If he could develop a top class then great, but I dont think wholesale changes in style are going to be beneficial. I cant see him being a Hearns/Lewis/Klitschko style figure that dictates a fight behind a jab. If you gave me a fighter with Khans attributes I would generally think that the style he has now is the one that suit his attributes. I would just concentrate on improving his movement and ring use and polishing certain aspects where he has natural strengths and ability.

I dont think he can develop a Hearns style jab. But look at the other Kronk fighters. Hilmer Kenty and Jimmy Paul sprint to mind. Both had very good jabs which everything flowed from. Even Mike Watson in his fight with Benn controlled it with the jab. The difference is that they all threw the jab with speed and authority. Khan's jab is a punch simply thrown out there without aim or direction. It does nothing and little leads off it.

His style and range is built for that type of fighter. He has the footspeed to get out of range and to get in range to utilise a jab.



*Lewis had a terrible jab.

Once Steward got involved with Lewis I think his jab became very good. Prior to that it wasnt top class.

I just dont really see Khan really having the requirements to be a jab oriented fighter. I think his biggest attribute is handspeed which is well suited to attacking in bursts and flurries. If I was to work on anything it would be his movement getting outafter his attacks which is crucial against fighters that try and walk you down. No point getting in to land if you have no eit plan and thats what cost Khan against Peterson. He couldnt get away quick enough.

Khan doesn't have to be a jab orientated fighter. He just needs to be able to utilise it and to throw it with authority. Right not its just flicked out probably instinctively without a target or intent.

A decent jab will make a pressure fighter think before attacking. Khan's arsenal doesn't deter them one iota. It causes more trouble for himself. Throwing flurries and then running is all well and good for 4-6 rounds. But if he doesn't getthe guy out of there, he's in a dog fight after that.

Khan's problem with peterson was not that he couldn't get away. It was more like he couldn't stop Peterson closing the distance.

I think he was fine against Peterson in the centre of the ring. It was when he was backed against the ropes and couldnt escape that he was in the most trouble. Just not enough movement for me.

manos de piedra wrote:I think he was fine against Peterson in the centre of the ring. It was when he was backed against the ropes and couldnt escape that he was in the most trouble. Just not enough movement for me.

He wouldn't have got his back to the ropes so often if he kept it at a distance with a jab. Moreover it wouldn't have given LP the confidence to continuously close the gap in the manner he did.

Also continuous movement is tiring and energy sapping.

From your description it seems you want Khan to be a jab and move fighter, a bit like a young Cassius Clay who could ping his opponent with jabs from the outside and leave them chasing shadows.

Im not sure Khan is capable of doing this. He could develop his jab more, but I think movement is still the key issue. Whether he is jabbing from the outside or ambushing in bursts I dont think either will be entirely successful against good pressure fighters unless he can keep out of range of them. I dont think its any guarantee a better jab does this and theres a risk that if you change trainers you lose alot of the good stuff Roach has done with him in favour of focusing heavily on one aspect.

If you saw the Alexander fight with Maidana recently it would seem this is the kind of model you would want Khan to adopt? Jab and move. Alexander beat Maidana far more comfortably than Khan did using this but Im just not sure Khan would be able to successfully adopt this style. Hes had alot of good performances with his style one has to remember also with convincing wins over the likes of Malignaggi, Judah and Kotelnik. I think if he concentrated on using his movement better to get in and out it would solve alot of his problems without risking drastic change. Its no guarantee he can develop a top class jab and I suspect he will just always be vunerable to pressure fighters regardless of who is training him.

Not neccessarily a jab and move fighter. I want him to establish his jab more and to throw it with authority.

The Alexander fight is a good example. Look at how they dealt with a common opponent. It could well be that Maidana was weak at WW whereas Alex looked strong. But with 2 fighters who applied pressure on Khan and having success, doing more of the same if a little better doesn't seem to be the way forward.

Its common knowledge that the best tool against a pressure fighter is the jab. Maidana and LP are no Frazier or Duran (LP is better that MM) so a jab against either will be effective.

The other problem Khan faces is the confidence his Prescott and wobbles in the past give his opponents. They believe him to be chinny.

Even if Khan developed the jab, I still think he has to move. Its unlikely he develops this cannon like jab that can dictate a fight the way Wlad can in the heavyweights. He has no inside game and is vunerable up close so movement will always be crucial to his success. If he gets drawn into a fight up front hes in trouble so hes got to always box and move whether by utlising a jab or relying on ambushes and short bursts.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're saying is that Khan should do what he's been doing but with more movement.

I disagree. More movement will tire him out anyway. Khan moves a lot (unintelligently imo) and relies on fast flurries. It wont work against LP. For me the jab is key.

I'm not saying he has to develop a Wlad like jab. He doesn't have the size differenntial Wlad has to use it effectively. He needs to jab more and with authority. When he was in the middle of the ring against LP, he was throwing fast hooks. He needs to incorporate straight punches and box with a jab in his arsenal.