If you're a boxing fan, Saturday is one of those days made especially for your digital video recorder.
There are important welterweight bouts on both HBO (Timothy Bradley vs. Diego Chaves) and Showtime, but the latter is bringing what looks to be an excellent card topped off with an intriguing main event.
Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KO) will defend the ridiculous WBC silver welterweight title against Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KO) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Referring to the championship as "ridiculous" is meant as no disrespect to Khan, but the myriad of titles in the sport is nauseating.
Despite the meaningless title that further muddles the legitimacy of championships in the sweet science, this bout is stylistically fascinating and hugely important to the futures of both men.
King Khan and Alexander the Great have their sights set on the top of the welterweight food chain.
Their targets are living and active legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Quite honestly, a loss would probably ensure that neither man ever occupies the same ring with Money or Pac-Man.
That's a lot of money and potential fame to miss out on.
Furthermore, both men are still rebuilding their careers after losing their world titles. Khan has won three in a row since being stopped by Danny "Swift" Garcia in 2012. He lost the WBA and WBC light welterweight titles in the process.
Alexander clearly represents the best competition he's faced since the loss.
Alexander lost a unanimous decision and his IBF title to Shawn "Showtime" Porter in Dec. 2013. He easily defeated Jesus Soto Karass by unanimous decision in June, but Khan might be the most physically talented opponent he's faced since he lost a technical decision to Bradley in Jan. 2011.
Lately, we've seen a number of fighters in their 30s or 40s taking the spotlight. That won't be the case in this battle.
Khan is 28 and Alexander is 27, so we also have skilled fighters competing in their physical prime. Without a major title on the line, it doesn't get much better than this for boxing purists.
Another top-10 welterweight is on the card. Keith "One Time" Thurman will face Leonard Bundu in a compelling matchup. Outside of the 147-pound division, former bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight champion Abner Mares faces Jose Ramirez, and top prospect Jermall Charlo takes on Lenny Bottai.
Here's how you can watch.
When: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
TV: Showtime
Live Stream: Sky Go (subscription required and region-restricted)
Eyeing Legends
Khan has wanted to get in the ring with Mayweather for well over a year. In fact, he was considered a finalist to face Money early this year, but Khan's observance of Ramadan took him out of the running for the September date.
With Mayweather's career almost over, the opportunity for fighters like Khan to cash in on the Money train is coming to an end.
In order for Khan to remain as a possibility for one of Mayweather's remaining bouts, he has to beat Alexander. As Khan found out earlier this year, winning won't guarantee him a shot at the pound-for-pound king. That's why he has the other elite name in the sport in his sights as well.
Khan's new promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, is looking for Khan to face Mayweather and/or Pacquiao, per Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian. Per Mitchell, De La Hoya said, “I’m pushing for a Pacquiao fight. And I’m also pushing for a Mayweather fight.”
Khan's speed would seemingly make him a formidable opponent for both, but his perceived weak chin would be a major concern. None of De La Hoya's wrangling will matter if Khan's suspect chin fails the test Saturday against Alexander.
Khan told Elliott Bretland of MailOnline that he is "the future of boxing." If that's the case, the future has to begin Saturday.
Eyeing Respect
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
At one time, Alexander was considered one of the best young prospects in the sport. He was a bit disgraced after his loss to Bradley. Most felt he quit after Bradley head-butted him on a few occasions during the fight.
The bout went to the cards, and Bradley got the nod from the judges.
Alexander got branded as mentally soft, and he's essentially been trying to dispel those thoughts since.
If you look at the fighters he's already beaten, it's a wonder he doesn't get more respect. It's true—he only beat an over-the-hill, one-dimensional Randall Bailey for the IBF welterweight title. However, he outpointed Marcos Rene Maidana and Lucas Matthysse prior to the bout with Bailey.
The aforementioned losses to Porter and Soto Karass set up this bout. If Alexander is going to be considered one of the better fighters of this era, he needs to beat Khan. He can think about the bigger fights after that.
Prediction
Power is the key to this scrap. Neither man is considered a hard puncher at welterweight. Khan has only fought at 147 pounds twice, and he didn't stop his opponent in either case. Alexander has five fights at 147, but his only stoppage came when Lee Purdy didn't answer the bell for the eighth round of their May 2013 bout.
The man who is capable of generating the most pop will have a distinct advantage.
Both fighters have quick hands, but Alexander has the quicker feet. He closes distance well, and Khan does not deal well with fighters who crowd him. Lamont Peterson won a controversial split decision over Khan in 2011 utilizing this strategy.
If Alexander is smart, he'll use head movement and foot speed to get inside on Khan. When in range, look for the opportunity to land the counter left hook that has bedeviled Khan twice in his career. Breidis Prescott and Garcia stopped Khan on the strength of counter left hands that he never saw coming.
Alexander, like Garcia, is a southpaw, so there are troubling dynamics in this fight for Khan.
If you subtracted the chin factor, I'd tell you Khan wins the fight. Unfortunately for him, this is boxing, and that's not how it works. Look for Alexander to muscle up against Khan on the inside and to hurt him with hard left hands.
Khan has tremendous heart, but his chin isn't equal. He'll be floored twice in the bout, but in respect of his warrior spirit, he'll finish and still lose a unanimous decision.
Source of article: Read here
There are important welterweight bouts on both HBO (Timothy Bradley vs. Diego Chaves) and Showtime, but the latter is bringing what looks to be an excellent card topped off with an intriguing main event.
Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KO) will defend the ridiculous WBC silver welterweight title against Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KO) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Referring to the championship as "ridiculous" is meant as no disrespect to Khan, but the myriad of titles in the sport is nauseating.
Despite the meaningless title that further muddles the legitimacy of championships in the sweet science, this bout is stylistically fascinating and hugely important to the futures of both men.
King Khan and Alexander the Great have their sights set on the top of the welterweight food chain.
Their targets are living and active legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Quite honestly, a loss would probably ensure that neither man ever occupies the same ring with Money or Pac-Man.
That's a lot of money and potential fame to miss out on.
Furthermore, both men are still rebuilding their careers after losing their world titles. Khan has won three in a row since being stopped by Danny "Swift" Garcia in 2012. He lost the WBA and WBC light welterweight titles in the process.
Alexander clearly represents the best competition he's faced since the loss.
Alexander lost a unanimous decision and his IBF title to Shawn "Showtime" Porter in Dec. 2013. He easily defeated Jesus Soto Karass by unanimous decision in June, but Khan might be the most physically talented opponent he's faced since he lost a technical decision to Bradley in Jan. 2011.
Lately, we've seen a number of fighters in their 30s or 40s taking the spotlight. That won't be the case in this battle.
Khan is 28 and Alexander is 27, so we also have skilled fighters competing in their physical prime. Without a major title on the line, it doesn't get much better than this for boxing purists.
Another top-10 welterweight is on the card. Keith "One Time" Thurman will face Leonard Bundu in a compelling matchup. Outside of the 147-pound division, former bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight champion Abner Mares faces Jose Ramirez, and top prospect Jermall Charlo takes on Lenny Bottai.
Here's how you can watch.
When: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
TV: Showtime
Live Stream: Sky Go (subscription required and region-restricted)
Eyeing Legends
Khan has wanted to get in the ring with Mayweather for well over a year. In fact, he was considered a finalist to face Money early this year, but Khan's observance of Ramadan took him out of the running for the September date.
With Mayweather's career almost over, the opportunity for fighters like Khan to cash in on the Money train is coming to an end.
In order for Khan to remain as a possibility for one of Mayweather's remaining bouts, he has to beat Alexander. As Khan found out earlier this year, winning won't guarantee him a shot at the pound-for-pound king. That's why he has the other elite name in the sport in his sights as well.
Khan's new promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, is looking for Khan to face Mayweather and/or Pacquiao, per Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian. Per Mitchell, De La Hoya said, “I’m pushing for a Pacquiao fight. And I’m also pushing for a Mayweather fight.”
Khan's speed would seemingly make him a formidable opponent for both, but his perceived weak chin would be a major concern. None of De La Hoya's wrangling will matter if Khan's suspect chin fails the test Saturday against Alexander.
Khan told Elliott Bretland of MailOnline that he is "the future of boxing." If that's the case, the future has to begin Saturday.
Eyeing Respect
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
At one time, Alexander was considered one of the best young prospects in the sport. He was a bit disgraced after his loss to Bradley. Most felt he quit after Bradley head-butted him on a few occasions during the fight.
The bout went to the cards, and Bradley got the nod from the judges.
Alexander got branded as mentally soft, and he's essentially been trying to dispel those thoughts since.
If you look at the fighters he's already beaten, it's a wonder he doesn't get more respect. It's true—he only beat an over-the-hill, one-dimensional Randall Bailey for the IBF welterweight title. However, he outpointed Marcos Rene Maidana and Lucas Matthysse prior to the bout with Bailey.
The aforementioned losses to Porter and Soto Karass set up this bout. If Alexander is going to be considered one of the better fighters of this era, he needs to beat Khan. He can think about the bigger fights after that.
Prediction
Power is the key to this scrap. Neither man is considered a hard puncher at welterweight. Khan has only fought at 147 pounds twice, and he didn't stop his opponent in either case. Alexander has five fights at 147, but his only stoppage came when Lee Purdy didn't answer the bell for the eighth round of their May 2013 bout.
The man who is capable of generating the most pop will have a distinct advantage.
Both fighters have quick hands, but Alexander has the quicker feet. He closes distance well, and Khan does not deal well with fighters who crowd him. Lamont Peterson won a controversial split decision over Khan in 2011 utilizing this strategy.
If Alexander is smart, he'll use head movement and foot speed to get inside on Khan. When in range, look for the opportunity to land the counter left hook that has bedeviled Khan twice in his career. Breidis Prescott and Garcia stopped Khan on the strength of counter left hands that he never saw coming.
Alexander, like Garcia, is a southpaw, so there are troubling dynamics in this fight for Khan.
If you subtracted the chin factor, I'd tell you Khan wins the fight. Unfortunately for him, this is boxing, and that's not how it works. Look for Alexander to muscle up against Khan on the inside and to hurt him with hard left hands.
Khan has tremendous heart, but his chin isn't equal. He'll be floored twice in the bout, but in respect of his warrior spirit, he'll finish and still lose a unanimous decision.
Source of article: Read here
