One man who was not caught up in the moment was Khan trainer Freddie Roach, who revealed he was very close to stopping the fight...
Boxing fans are still buzzing about last Saturday’s title fight between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana. The epic 10th round, which featured Khan desperately trying to avoid another career-derailing knockout, had all the excitement and drama that only boxing can bring. One man who was not caught up in the moment was Khan trainer Freddie Roach, who revealed he was very close to stopping the fight.
In an interview with the UK’s Mirror, Roach admitted being highly concerned about the repeated hard blows Khan took, especially in light of Marcos Maidana being the hardest puncher in the junior welterweight division. It was only after viewing Khan in the corner, and his improvement in round 11, that Roach began to believe his fighter would survive Maidana’s late fight surge.
“I did have thoughts of that, yes,” Roach told the Mirror. “I talked to Amir between the 10th and the 11th. He responded well. His head was clear. He came back in the 11th with some combinations. It was very close to being stopped in the 10th round, he took a lot of shots.”
Khan’s chin may be an established weakness, but Roach countered that his fighter has something that will see him through many challenges, and that’s heart.
“Amir showed he had some fucking balls. A lot of people said he would get hit on the chin and quit,” Roach continued. “He showed he had no quit in him. He has shown he can become one of Britain’s greatest fighters and is already set to be the best of his era.”
Watching the 10th, I was expecting Khan to fall at any moment. Maidana was all over him and giving no recovery time. But after every shot, Khan remained upright. It was an amazing display, and one that should make him a smarter and better fighter. Most guys, especially ones that have been sparked out like he was against Breidis Prescott, would have completely panicked in that situation.
Khan should have a much easier time in April, when he faces either Zab Judah, Victor Ortiz, Joan Guzman, or a rematch with Breidis Prescott. None of those guys are nowhere near as relentless as Maidana. If I was matchmaking, the pick would be Prescott. The fight is in the UK, where Khan was embarrassed in his own country by Prescott. The bout would serve as revenge, and to show he’s a completely different fighter from that loss two years ago. But if I had to guess, I believe it will be Zab Judah. HBO will want to air Khan’s next fight, and Judah is the biggest and most recognizable name for U.S. fans.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 