Pacquiao could damage reputation by fighting Mosley -- Reuters

By Cheryl Ravelo , Reuters

Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be first pick, Juan Manuel Marquez wouldn’t be a bad choice either but Shane Mosley is certainly not the man the world wants Manny Pacquiao, the undisputed pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet, to fight next.

However, it appears very likely that Pacquiao will announce a May 7 bout with the 39-year-old former welterweight title holder during his birthday celebrations in the Philippines on Friday.

Mosley was booed during his woeful September draw with reality television celebrity Sergio Mora following a unanimous points loss to Mayweather in May.

However, he appears to be first choice for Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who is in the Philippines and has said the choice of opponent will be down to Pacquiao.

Mexican Marquez looked back to his best in defeating Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis this year following a defeat by Mayweather. Marquez’s two previous fights with Pacquiao, a draw and a split decision victory for the Filipino, were nothing short of thrilling and a third fight would be attractive.

Pacquiao’s reputation has gone through the roof following his jolly up the weight divisions. His ability to bring with him the power he had at featherweight to leave opponents at light-middleweight in trouble is phenomenal but he could possibly damage that reputation by taking a fight with Mosley.

What is there to be gained in bashing another inferior opponent for 12 rounds other than a shed load more money to throw in the bank?

Pacquiao outclassed Antonio Margarito to win the vacant WBC light-middleweight title last month, the eighth division in which he has claimed a world title but the Mexican wasn’t worthy of a title shot in his second fight back following a one-year ban for wearing illegal hand wraps.

Before that Pacquiao humiliated Joshua Clottey for 12 rounds, the Ghanaian offering minimal offence and content to survive the contest with both hands covering his face. Was he a worthy opponent having suffered losses to Miguel Cotto, who Pacquiao stopped in the final round, and Margarito?

To be fair to Pacquiao, his first choice has always been Mayweather but the pair have not been able to negotiate terms and the Filipino has been forced to take other fights and while he has been able to showcase his talents in beating the lower class of fighter, it seems the boxing public have had enough.

ESPN’s respected boxing correspondent Dan Rafael posted on Twitter: “Not only don’t my Tweeples (Twitter followers) support a Pacquiao-Mosley fight, they’re venomous in their hatred for it. Does ANYONE want to see it? If so speak”

PHOTO: Supporters of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao pose for a picture during the unveiling of Pacquiao’s statue at the Manila Bay seafront November 26, 2010. The bronze statue was erected in honour of his achievements in boxing.

Source: blogs.reuters.com

Manny Pacquiao delays next bout to May 7 -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Manny Pacquiao met with his promoter and his business manager Tuesday in what was described as "full, exploratory meeting," and the Filipino superstar boxer is prepared to decide his next opponent by Friday, promoter Bob Arum said.

But that fight will be delayed by nearly a month, it was learned, because of Pacquiao's congressional obligations. The announced April 16 bout will now be held May 7, the weekend of Cinco de Mayo. The site will remain the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The man considered the best pound-for-pound boxer told Arum that his duties as a congressman in the Philippines makes the April date too difficult to fulfill. Pacquiao typically trains for eight weeks before a fight.

As for who he will fight, the talks are ongoing.

Holding a world junior-middleweight belt that is his record eighth weight-class title, Pacquiao is considering bids by Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto, Arum said.

"I know where he's headed, but it's not right for me to divulge yet," Arum said. "Until it's conclusively decided, I'm not going to say anything."

Arum also warned not to read anything into the new date that Marquez would be the choice.

Arum and Pacquiao's business manager, Michael Koncz, have made it no secret that they prefer Pacquiao fight Mosley in the absence of the legally troubled Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The 39-year-old Mosley, currently a world welterweight champion, has generated rich pay-per-views as the B side to bouts featuring Oscar De La Hoya and Mayweather. Mosley has looked awful in his two most recent fights, however, a one-sided loss to Mayweather and a sluggish draw against Sergio Mora in September.

World lightweight champion Marquez, meanwhile, has fought Pacquiao to a 2004 draw and 2008 split-decision loss, and he's shined in bouts this year against Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis.

Pacquiao's handlers want to avoid such a tough battle against Marquez with the mega-pay day against Mayweather Jr. still possible pending his legal trouble in Nevada for allegedly striking the mother of his children and threatening his children.

Following dinner at a Chinese restaurant in the Philippines, Arum said he presented information to Pacquiao at the promoter's hotel suite. Pacquiao often says his promoter determines whom he fights.

"I do have a lot of influence based on logic, but Manny has to determine what's logical," Arum said. "He relies heavily on me, but I'm not going to tell him to fight 'X' when he wants to fight 'Y.' "

Arum wouldn't say that's the scenario at play.

What about Mayweather? Is that officially dead?

Arum said he's heard "zero" from the Mayweather camp.

"If Floyd was promotional minded, he'd come here for Manny's birthday party [Friday] and come out of the cake saying he's ready for the fight," Arum said. "That would make a huge statement."

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Disgusted Coach Freddie Roach: Ariza, Diaz acting like two little kids -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Our telephone connection from Manhattan to Manila was not the strongest. On my end, Coach Freddie Roach sounded as though he was speaking into a Dixie cup with string attached to it.

But I did understand one thing that Manny Pacquiao's celebrated trainer said clearly.

Do not look for Roach, age 50, to jump into the heated fray, the war of words between Pacman strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and longtime cutman-trainer Miguel Diaz.

Diaz, originally from Argentina but a Las Vegan for about 40 years or so, and the much younger Ariza, who is originally from Colombia, got into verbal sparring right after the final bell sounded Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay.

Roach and Ariza were in the corner of main event winner Amir Khan while Diaz was chief second for his countryman, Marcos Maidana, who was rugged and gallant but who was outpointed by the Bolton, UK, resident.

Ariza said that Diaz made a derogatory remark about Maidana, calling him a piece of s--t.

[Diaz] starts coming over and calling me a fraud and a cheat and stuff like that. I don't know where it came from. So I just said, 'Hey, whatever, my fighter won, yours didn't.' Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?" said Ariza.


"It's kind of disappointing because you think, 'This is a sport, and it has nothing really to do with that,'" said Ariza. "But, you know, Miguel is ... sometimes when they get older, and you can see that you're on your way out. This is his last chance to make something. But to call me a fraud, you know, I don't cheat. Everybody knows that."

Diaz's story, as told to LV Examiner Chris Robinson and to both AOL Fan House's Elie Seckbach and Lem "Baltimore Gem" Satterfield, was that it was Ariza who started the verbal venom.

"Alex Ariza is the one who started the whole thing. I went to congratulate Freddie Roach, and from the back of everybody else, and, in front of Freddie, there were a lot of people. And Alex sticks his head out from out of everyone else and says, 'Your fighter is a piece of s**t,'" said Diaz.


"That's exactly what Alex Ariza told me," said Diaz. "And I said, 'You are a f**king fraud that's what you are.' But Alex is the one who started everything with me."


Roach is not keen on playing schoolyard monitor or referee between the two.

"I do not know what done and what was said between them," Roach said from his hotel in Makati.

"I do not know what was said or what was done. All I know is I told them they were both acting like like two little kids. And then I walked away."


Roach and Pacman promoter Bob Arum leave Manila Friday morning to go to General Santos City for Pacquiao's lavish 32nd birthday bash at the Convention center Friday.

Roach is known to have accepted if not recommended shopworn Sugar Shane Mosley as Manny's April 16 or May 7 opponent.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Called 'A Fraud' By Migue Diaz, Alex Ariza Responds, 'I Don't Cheat' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Sometime during the aftermath of Saturday night's HBO televised, unanimous decision by WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Amir Khan over WBA interim titlist Marcos Rene Maidana, Khan's strength coach, Alex Ariza, and Maidana's trainer, Miguel Diaz, engaged in a heated, verbal brawl in the ring.

In victory, Khan rose to 24-1, with 17 knockouts, dropping Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs) with a pair of first-round body shots, and, later, surviving a near-knockout in the 10th round of their Top Rank Promotions-sponsored clash at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

But after their literal fisticuffs, Khan's assistant trainer to Freddie Roach, Ariza told Elie Seckbach of FanHouse that Diaz, came across the ring and launched into a verbal assault.

"[Diaz] starts coming over and calling me a Fraud and a cheat and stuff like that. I don't know where it came from. So I just said, 'Hey, whatever, my fighter won, yours didn't.' Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?" said Ariza.

"It's kind of disappointing because you think, 'This is a sport, and it has nothing really to do with that,'" said Ariza. "But, you know, Miguel is ... sometimes when they get older, and you can see that you're on your way out. This is his last chance to make something. But to call me a fraud, you know, I don't cheat. Everybody knows that."

But the 72-year-old Diaz claims that Ariza was the first to initiate the negative exchange, this, after Diaz had approached the Khan corner with honorable intentions.

"Alex Ariza is the one who started the whole thing. I went to congratulate Freddie Roach, and from the back of everybody else, and, in front of Freddie, there were a lot of people. And Alex sticks his head out from out of everyone else and says, 'Your fighter is a piece of s**t,'" said Diaz.

"That's exactly what Alex Ariza told me," said Diaz. "And I said, 'You are a f**king fraud that's what you are.' But Alex is the one who started everything with me."

Besides Khan, Ariza and Roach also work with eight-time titlist Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), owner of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belts as well as a winning streak of 13 consecutive fights that includes eight knockouts.

A four-time Trainer of the Year, the 50-year-old Roach also handles junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan (28-0, 17 KOs) and junior middleweight and middleweight (160 pounds) prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs) out of his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.

In December of last year, Pacquiao filed a lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character against Floyd Mayweather Jr. that also names Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, as well as Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and president, respectively, of Golden Boy Promotions, which handled Mayweather's part of the negotiations for a potential March 13 fight between the two.

"[The lawsuit is] based on their [defendant's] false and defamatory statements about Manny Pacquiao," said Pacquiao's attorney, Dan Petrocelli, at the time. "Specifically their publicly stating that Pacquiao was taking steroids or other illegal drugs to enhance his performance -- knowing that there is absolutely no basis for any such assertions."

Not long after Pacquiao's filing, the negotiations for a bout with Mayweather collapsed over an impasse involving drug testing protocol for both fighters.

The sting and resulting stigma of the accusations apparently still resonates with Ariza, who believes that Diaz was unfairly targeting him.

"I train my fighters, and I'm legitimate. I don't give them anything. Anything illegal," said Ariza, who was still fuming long after the fight's conclusion. "If that makes him [Diaz] feel better, and that's his way, I just didn't think that it was an appropriate place to do it after a fight, but, it is what it is."

But Diaz said that he was not accusing Ariza of doing anything illegal.

"Maybe it's in his subconcious or something like that. But at no time did I ever say that he cheats," said Diaz. "I didn't say that he cheats, I said that he's a fraud if he thinks that Manny Pacquiao is what he is because he had anything to do with why Pacquiao is what he is. Pacquiao and Freddie Roach are of everything, with or without Ariza."

During the 10th round, where Maidana's blistering attack nearly had Khan out on his feet, Diaz felt that referee Joe Cortez unfairly favored and protected the champion.

Ariza, however, said that Diaz simply mishandled the situation, failing to direct Maidan through an effective strategy.

"Unfortunatley, sometimes, when a trainer hasn't had the trainer's cap on before, they get a little excited," said Ariza. "Miguel Diaz, just because you throw a towel over your shoulder, it doesn't make you a trainer."

But Diaz has trained former titlists Luis Ramon "Yori Boy" Campas, Stevie Johnston, Cesar Soto, and, Johnny Tapia, briefly, Diego Corrales, among others.

Diaz also has served as a cut man for fighters such as Pacquiao, Mayweather., Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Kelly Pavlik, Israel Vazquez, Hasim Rahman, James Toney, Mike McCallum, Jose Luis Castillo, Iran Barkley, Eric Morel, Williams Joppy, Joshua Clottey, Tony Tubbs, and, Christy Martin.

"Unfortunately, Alex Ariza is not a boxing guy. He is one of those guys who talks more about who he is than they really are. Like, I don't go around calling writers and seeking publicity," said Diaz. "I don't need this sort of publicity. Alex Ariza needs publicity. I mean, he talks about himself like he's the greatest thing in the world, and he simply is not."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Boxing experts weigh in on Pacquiao’s ‘retirement’ -- PDI

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Two boxing experts are divided on whether pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao should retire or not if Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is unable to negotiate for a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

World Boxing Council founding secretary general Rudy Salud said on Monday that if Pacquiao “cannot get Mayweather, he should retire permanently or be semi-retired in the same manner as Mayweather and come back if Mayweather beckons.”

Salud regarded the planned April 19 fight against Shane Mosley as “meaningless because it’s just a money fight,” adding that with an eighth title in eight divisions, Pacquiao had already “achieved everything.”

But American Rick Stehely, who trained Pacquiao for his first world title fight when he won the WBC flyweight title with an eighth-round knockout of champion Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand, disagreed with Salud.

“If you are waiting for one guy and it may never happen, I think Manny should continue to fight whether he fights Mosley or Juan Manuel Marquez or one of these other guys,” he said.

“I believe that if you are in your prime, don’t back away from a multimillion payday,” Stehely added.

The conflicting stands came on the eve of Arum’s arrival from Las Vegas with his wife, stepdaughter and WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez to attend Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday bash on December 17 in General Santos City.

Salud added that “neither Manny or Arum can claim that he is fighting for our country if he fights Mosley. He might as well concentrate on his task in Congress because there is so much to do.”

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Amir Khan heading towards showdown with Floyd Mayweather -- Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, guardian.co.uk

There is a groundswell of opinion moving Amir Khan into the tricky arms of Floyd Mayweather, possibly in Las Vegas in July, the second slot reserved for the Bolton fighter next year by his American agents, Golden Boy Promotions.

It is a giant "if", of course, seeing Mayweather is not even certain to be at large after a court appearance next month to answer domestic violence charges.

But, after his extraordinary win over the Argentinian Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night to hang on to his WBA light-welterweight title, Khan is the hottest property in boxing outside his friend Manny Pacquiao and the slumbering heavyweights, among them David Haye and the Klitschko brothers.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, says he wants Mayweather after Khan's next fight, which is scheduled for London on 16 April, possibly as a curtain raiser for Haye against Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight title unification fight in Las Vegas later that evening. There is much horse-trading to do before the rival promoters get to that stage, though. Khan, meanwhile, is oblivious to the fuss.

The scars of battle do not seem to run deep in his young psyche. Although he was roughed up around his face from the sledgehammer blows the Argentinian rained down on him, the champion later declared no lasting pain from what to the voyeurs present was a fight from hell.

His good friend Naseem Hamed, who had a couple of good wars himself, said he felt guilty about celebrating Khan's win, as he did not want him to suffer like that again. His trainer Freddie Roach admitted he momentarily considered throwing in the towel when Khan reeled like a Saturday night drunk in the 10th round. David Haye, the world heavyweight champion, could hardly believe his little pal came through it.

Alone among everyone who witnessed it, though, the fighter reckoned the day after that he was never in deep trouble, not even in that horrendous 10th session, which is destined to live in the archives as further proof of man's ability to both inflict and suffer extraordinary pain in the name of entertainment and sport.

While visual evidence suggested he was as close to disaster as it is possible to get without being rendered unconscious Khan said the following day over orange juice and fruit salad: "I thought I won the fight convincingly. I was hitting him with the cleaner shots. He was hitting a lot of his own shots on my defence.

"I think the best round he had was the 10th. But, you know what? He hit me with his best shots and he didn't hurt me. Even when he caught me with that first shot in the 10th round, I knew exactly where I was.

"We all know he's got devastating power. Look what he's done to 27 opponents. But I just kept cool. I remember in the early days when I got clipped I used to panic. Not now. I compose myself. I went back to the ropes, with my hands up and I saw what he was doing. He caught me two or three times after that, but he didn't hurt me.

"I knew he was going to slow down, that he only had another few little bursts in him. I knew after that he was going to be tired out, and I would control the round again. The last 20 or 30 seconds of the round my legs were fine and I was fine.

"I spoke to the referee in the changing room beforehand and he said, 'You can stand there taking shots until I think you've taken too many unanswered shots.' But in the 10th round, I felt okay. I didn't once feel I was gone. I think the whole fight will make my reputation in the States, and the 10th round especially. I took shots and I came back."

He's right on the last point. Punters will flock to see more of the same. Whether it is good for his longevity is doubtful - and Roach, surely, will not let it happen again. The warrior surfaced in Khan on Saturday night; he needs to be reintroduced to the cool, clinical boxer if he is to have any hope against the likes of Mayweather.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Mosley vs Pacquiao firming up — insider -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Unless Juan Manuel Marquez suddenly decides to lower his demand or Andre Berto becomes an internet sensation overnight, expect Manny Pacquiao to make his ring return in 2011 against Shane Mosley.

“Looks like it’s Mosley,” said Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal on Monday when asked about the chances of Marquez or Berto being picked over Mosley.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is actually arriving this morning from the US to present to Pacquiao the proposals of the three fighters being eyed as the Filipino’s opponent in a fight penciled for April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Arum has actually been batting for Mosley over the two since Mosley has outstanding name recall, something that is important in generating pay-per-view sales.

Marquez’s association with Top Rank’s rival Golden Boy Promotions – and the Mexican’s outrageous asking price – have made it almost impossible for Pacquiao and Arum to deal with the Oscar De La Hoya-owned outfit.

Berto is an attractive foe because of his youth and skills but his lack of appeal among casual fans also works against him being picked over the tried and tested Mosley, who remains a livewire foe even at the advanced age of 39.

Still, Pacquiao will try to go over the offer sheets of the three fighters since “he’d be the one fighting,” said Arum, who will joined by wife Lovee and his stepdaughter Dena DuBoef as they join Pacquiao in his 32nd birthday celebration this Friday in General Santos City.

Also planing in this Tuesday with Arum is trainer Freddie Roach and another Top Rank property, bantamweight Nonito Donaire.

Mosley has the inside track since he has given the most reasonable proposal to Arum with the assistance of his new adviser, rap mogul James Prince.

Source: mb.com.ph

Amir Khan wants Floyd Mayweather Jr after proving the chin can take it -- Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, guardian.co.uk

In surviving three of the most awful minutes of his career en route to retaining the World Boxing Association light-welterweight title, Amir Khan ensured that he will be remembered no longer just for Breidis Prescott but for another South American of frightening power, Marcos Maidana.

Hours after their fight at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night, seasoned and callow observers alike were talking of little else but the 10th of 12 rounds, one that reduced the disappointingly small crowd to a volley of gasps and ensured that Khan can now be sold in the US not just as an amiable stylist with a nice smile and a quaint, rasping accent, but as a crowd‑pleasing cash cow.

He wants no less than Floyd Mayweather Jr – if the American can avoid a prison sentence for domestic violence. But if Mayweather is still at large later in the year, Khan has one great thing going for him: he is not Manny Pacquiao, whom Mayweather has been at pains to handcuff in demands that have so far made a fight between them as hard to arrange as David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko.

This fight and this single round deserved a grander stage than a half-empty cavern that can hold 9,000 fans; those present and those watching at home on HBO and Sky will count themselves fortunate to have witnessed a career‑changing performance by Khan.

It will not take much to sell Khan‑Mayweather on the back of this.

Paradoxically, it was one of Khan's most naive displays. Yet, in that naivety – where the foot-on-pedal rushes of the Argentinian challenger drove him to the ropes, stripping the Briton of his great asset, mobility – Khan found something he knew was there, even if others doubted it: a heart the size of Bolton.

That heart was beating just as strongly the night Colombia's Prescott knocked him out in 54 seconds in Manchester two years ago – his life seems destined to be defined in dramatic cameos – but here, on his Las Vegas debut and after 12 weeks getting ready, he reached a level of fitness that some elite athletes could only dream about. It is what kept him on his shaking legs three rounds short of the finish line as Maidana battered him without reply and with every ounce of his considerable strength.

Remarkably, Khan got through it. Even more remarkably, he found some dregs of strength to trade with Maidana and nearly steal the 11th. Ultimately, though, he had to hang on as his little foe came at him again in the last round; had there been no bell, they'd still be going at it.

There were some ugly exchanges between a couple of members of both camps in the ring afterwards and Maidana almost fled the scene as soon as the scores were announced. Although he still thought he had won, he was decent enough to admit later that it probably was not the most appropriate response to a close fight.

The final judgment was 114-111 twice and 113-112, a fair assessment. I had Khan 115-112 ahead at the end of a contest that swung wildly, mostly Khan's way from rounds one to nine, and in favour of Maidana in a gripping conclusion.

It was almost over in the first round, when Khan cut his man in half with a left to the liver that him doubled up in agony on the canvas. Not many get up from such a shot, but Maidana must be made of a concrete-rubber mix, because he bounced up and got back into it. "I can still feel it now," the Argentinian said an hour after the fight.

He gave up a point in the fifth, when his flying elbow coming out of a clinch caught the referee Joe Cortez, an unfortunate misdemeanour. When Khan controlled the middle of the ring with his jab and free-flowing combinations, Maidana looked pedestrian. But he was not there to impress stylistically and took to charging with no pretence at defence, swinging from either hip.

Khan rippled pleasingly on the eye at the light-welter limit of 10 stones, a pound heavier than his opponent who, with his skinny Mohawk and sharp, dark eyes, resembled a bantam cock. He certainly scraps like one, having stopped 27 of 30 opponents before colliding with the iron will and surprisingly strong chin of the champion. But he had given up enough of the early rounds to be trailing throughout on all cards.

It is easy in these sorts of big fights for the winner to ignore the bad bits. Khan, with the ever-honest Freddie Roach in his corner, did not indulge himself in delusion. He admitted his mistakes: leaving himself exposed on the ropes and walking on to a couple of haymakers a novice could have avoided.

Roach reckoned he "almost lost the fight" by failing to stick to a game plan that had him circling to the right to avoid Maidana's trademark finisher. Less involved parties were less critical.

"I always knew he had the heart," the WBA heayweight champion, David Haye, said. "And, with all the training he's done with Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter on the planet, you could clearly see he's learned how to weather a storm. He knows how to kill the clock. The tricks he didn't know in the Prescott fight, he definitely knows now – and that's why he's still the champion of the world."

Haye also thinks Khan can beat Mayweather. "Mayweather's a boxer. He doesn't really close the range the way Maidana does. The shots Amir was getting hit with tonight are shots that Mayweather doesn't really throw. He is a box-puncher, keeps it long, looks for angles. I believe Amir is as quick as him – and could Mayweather take the onslaught that Amir was taking tonight? I've never seen Mayweather in that position. If that fight does happen, I'm backing Amir all the way."

Before he was led away for a brain scan at a local hospital, Khan managed one final smile though bruised lips to remind us: "What a great fight it was, man."

It was. And, now that he has shaken off his monkey, Khan is perfectly placed to provide plenty more great fights.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Khan wins close decision over Maidana -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- When junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan elected to face the light-hitting Paulie Malignaggi in May rather than interim titlist Marcos Maidana, his mandatory challenger, there were those who screamed that Khan must somehow be scared to fight the rock-thrower from Argentina.

Well, how do you like Khan now?

Not only did Khan stand in with Maidana in a ferocious and exciting battle, he survived some brutal shots and a near-knockout in the 10th round to retain his 140-pound title on a unanimous decision Saturday night before a small, but boisterous crowd of 4,632 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The kid from England earned his stripes for sure.

"You can tell by his record he's a strong puncher and I took everything he gave me," Khan said proudly.

There have been plenty of questions about Khan's chin. The 2004 Olympic silver medalist at age 17 had been knocked down a few times early in his professional career and then was pounded out in 54 seconds in a stunning upset by Breidis Prescott in 2008.

But Khan made changes in his training habits and hired trainer Freddie Roach. He matured. He focused more.

Now, after surviving hell with Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs), he showed he is a true professional and a helluva fighter in winning his sixth bout in a row since the devastating loss.

He was also proud of how his chin held up despite taking some massive shots in defending his belt for the third time.

"I'm sure everyone watching my fights knows I've made mistakes," Khan said in clear reference to the Prescott fight. "But I've worked hard and came back stronger than ever. I'm a different fighter working with Freddie Roach and [strength and conditioning coach] Alex Ariza. I took his best shots and I was still there."

While Khan certainly had the edge in speed and overall skill, Maidana never stopped throwing his bombs. He didn't land all that many of them, but when he did, he made 'em count.

Maidana practically sprinted to Khan at the opening bell. His best way to win was going to make it a war. We all knew that. Clearly, Maidana did too. But Khan was ready.

He stymied Maidana's aggression early and dropped him in that opening round, sinking a left hook to the liver near the end of the round and then unloading a few more shots just before the bell for good measure.

He landed 31 punches to Maidana's five in the opening round. It was 32-5 in the second round.

Khan was in control on the cards as he continued to build his lead. But Maidana's pressure was relentless.

Maidana got a bit overzealous in the fifth round when he threw an elbow at Khan and was docked a point.

But he had made his point and continued to do so -- this was going to be a street fight whether England's Khan liked it or not.

By the sixth, Maidana's shots were beginning to take their toll. He was landing and Khan was retreating with Maidana chasing after him. When Khan -- who turned 24 on Wednesday -- would lay on the ropes, Maidana would attack with punch after punch, even though he couldn't get Khan off his feet.

The extreme pressure from Maidana continued and in the 10th round came Khan's moment of truth. Maidana brutalized him. A right hand badly hurt him and several more shots did even more damage. Khan looked like he was practically out on his feet.

To the shock of most at ringside, Khan managed to stay on his feet despite being in terrible trouble throughout the round.

Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) survived the round and made it through the final two, tough rounds while Maidana let everything he had hang out.

"He's a strong fighter and he hit hard, but my chin was tested," said Khan, who earned $975,000 and will ultimately bank much more based on the revenue generated by the pay-per-view telecast in England. "I'm not taking anything away from him. He's a great champion. But I proved today I've got a chin. I fight with my heart. I'm a boxer. If I go into the ring, I know I'm going to get hit."

In the end, the judges rewarded Khan with a deserved 114-111, 114-111, 113-112 decision. ESPN.com had it a bit wider for Khan, 116-109, but it was a fantastic and competitive fight.

Maidana gave a tremendous effort and thought he deserved the decision.

"I thought I won," said Maidana, who earned a career-high $550,000. "I thought I did enough in the final rounds to win the fight, but they gave it to him."

Khan landed 273 of 603 punches (45 percent), according to CompuBox statistics while Maidana was credited with landing 156 of 767 (20 percent).

Maidana hadn't earned it though. He had given up too many early rounds to the flashy Khan, who advanced to what many view as the semifinals of an unofficial tournament at 140 pounds.

Khan and Maidana, 27, were considered two of the top four fighters in the division heading into the fight. The other two, titleholders Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley Jr., meet to unify belts on Jan. 29 in Pontiac, Mich.

A fight between Khan and the winner of that fight is what many fans -- and HBO, which is bankrolling the unofficial tournament -- want to see.

Khan, however, likely will return to England for his next defense in the spring, but could move on to face the Alexander-Bradley winner later next year.

If he does, Khan certainly gained valuable experience and confidence surviving the hell that Maidana had just put him through.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Amir Khan has his senses scrambled but hangs on in thrilling victory over Marcos Maidana -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, telegraph.co.th

It was heart-racing fare. Amir Khan retained the World Boxing Association light-welterweight by unanimous decision against as tough a man as you could find. Argentine Marcos Maidana has a chin of granite, and a heart so large they should have found him a title for this performance, too. He was gritty, and desperate, at times, but he made the fight. And enhanced his reputation.

It will be nominated as one of the fights of the year. It was by unanimous decision on the judges’ cards, 114-111, 114-111, 113-112.

In reality, in a fight thrilling from first to last, Khan hung on by a finger nail to his title, in a very tough fight. It will have done his reputation wonders in the US. But in a sense it revealed the very best, and the very worst of him.

Within the frame, Khan put Maidana on the floor with a liver shot in the opening round, and it looked over. Maidana then came back ferociously, and although he had a point deducted for an elbow in the fifth round by referee Joe Cortez, battled back into the fight in the middle rounds to bury his way into Khan.

Throughout the contest, Khan’s lightning fists scored in bunches. But Maidana’s moment came in the tenth, Khan caught by a winging right hand halfway through the round. His legs had gone, and he barely knew where he was. Somehow, throwing no punches, he got through the next minute, firing back finally with 24 seconds left in the round. Perhaps he should have taken a knee. Perhaps he wasn’t conscient enough. Perhaps it might have given Maidana

It was the toughest, and most telling round of Khan’s career. He survived it, just as his career survives. His head cleared, he fought back in the eleventh, and moved in the twelfth, but his senses were still slightly scrambled. He needs to gather them again soon, because there is still much work to be done before he is truly to be accepted as elite level. Hell of a fight. Jack Hirsch, President of The Boxing Writers Association of America.

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk