Forget the bitterness, Khan really is the real deal

Amir Khan's bout against Martin Kristjansen this weekend seems to have almost slipped under the radar with all the superfights involving Brits going on. As usual, Khan will start an overwhelming favourite, but that does not mean the Dane is no good, nor does it give credit to the fact that Khan is on the verge of really big things.

Khan has been on the end of a vicious whispering campaign, from people who would like you to believe that Khan is all hype, can't punch, is chinny and over-protected. Read the letters page of Boxing News, many of the internet forums or one or two websites and these matters are commonly brought up by armchair "experts" who think they are being terribly clever.

But boxing has always been full of bitter people who would rather criticise than get behind anything. I think those opinions are rubbish. Khan, to me, is the best prospect I have ever seen. He is 21, he is boxing someone in Kristjansen who is rated No 2 by the WBO (Frank Warren didn't rate him there) an if he wins, he would be facing either Nate Campbell or Joel Casamayor for the world title - two great champions in a very strong division.

What do these people want or expect? Moan, moan, moan. Willie Limond, whom Khan boxed last year, was a very good boxer, Gairy St Clair, his last opponent, was a former world champion, Graham Earl, was coming into the fight straight off a loss to Michael Katsidis - Earl put Katsidis on the floor, Katsidis knocked Casamayor out of the ring. I repeat - Khan is 21. I would love to see Khan face Jon Thaxton or Yuri Romanov, who do I think would win? Khan, no question.

Campbell and Casamayor are both 36, an age Khan probably can't contemplate at present. One thing is certain, he doesn't expect to still be boxing then. "I'll have retired by the time I'm 36," Khan said. "I'll be involved in boxing but I won't be boxing myself. I'll be chilling out and relaxing with my family. Boxing is all I've ever done since the age of eight and I'll want to do something else by then.

Guys fight on for a variety of reasons, financial reasons or just because they're still in love with the sport. But I know for a fact that when I'm 36 I'll be relaxing. I think I'll peak when I'm a world champion and I'll probably want to just keep fighting and fighting and as the stakes rise and my profile rises I'll want to keep fighting. But I think there will come a time when I'll think that I’m going to stop now. My body will let me know when it's time to stop or not to stop.

"But I've got to focus on Saturday first and beating him in good style, I don't just want to win the fight but I want to show that I can do it in style and show I'm ready for those bigger fights."

Comments

[Bombay Boy]

This kid is as exciting a prospect as Naseem Hamed. It might be easy to disrespect Hamed now but boy was he an exciting fighter and a very good boxer. As long as his old man can keep him in check he Khan be a joy to watch. What a shame Hamed needed sycophants. He was always a boxer, his power a gift of god. It was a shame he got lazy and relied on his punch rather than his talent for boxing, Khan learn the lesson well!