Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) and Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) meet on December 11 in arguably boxing’s most talent-rich division. 
The junior welterweight division is so talented that the Khan-Maidana fight will be preceded by another appetizing 140-pound matchup – Victor Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 KOs) vs Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs).
The junior welterweight division is so talented that the Khan-Maidana fight will be preceded by another appetizing 140-pound matchup – Victor Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 KOs) vs Lamont Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs).That’s right, boxing is heating up as we head into the coldest time of the year.
Khan-Maidana has the makings of a great fight. You have two guys who can punch, have been knocked down hard (in Khan’s case, knocked out, and I’ll expand on that later), and are in their physical primes. When these three factors collide, you tend to get fireworks.
Now who will win this tantalizing December matchup?
I’m going with Amir "King" Khan by late stoppage over Marcos "El Chino" Maidana because he has:
- much faster hands – this will be the difference;
- natural physical advantages in height and reach;
- the ability to control the fight with a single punch (jab), and
- Freddie Roach in his corner – having boxing’s best trainer can only help.
My post headline reads, "If His Chin Holds Up, The Wrath Of Khan Will Overwhelm Maidana." That’s my biggest cause for concern, as far as my prediction goes.
What will happen if and when Khan gets touched by Maidana’s heavy hands? Will he crumble like he did against Breidis Prescott? Will he respond like a resilient champion like Juan Manuel Marquez does after he’s been planted on the seat of his pants?
My guess is that with the savvy Freddie Roach in his corner and the judicious use of his range-finding jab, he won’t allow his chin to get exposed. And ultimately, El Chino’s chin will be the one that gets dented next Saturday.
Absolutely, brilliant article. Spot on with the attributes. Khan gonna take him in 9 rounds.
@Billy. Thanks, glad you agree with me. I hope I’m right, not because I don’t like Maidana, but because I’m on a two-fight prediction losing streak!
i like kahn too. i think it will go like the p. mag fight.
@ Ja
I agree with your prediction here, but Maidana is going to be a tough mofo…
Who do yo pick in the Ortiz – Peterson bout?
@EmE I am leaning towards Ortiz in that fight. I don’t Peterson has enough pop to disrupt Ortiz’s flow. Should be a very competitive fight though.
I don’t see a Knockout (in Khan’s favour) in this fight. NO WAY is Roach going to advise him to go for the KO and leave his own chin exposed, which Amir has a tendency to do whilst on the attack. I see Khan moving constantly and peppering the (slightly) smaller Maidana en route to a surprisingly comfortable 118-110 points decision. Having said that a 1st round KO for Maidana is not really out of the question but Khan seems to be brimming with confidence at the moment.
@Chris K I think a late KO for Khan is DEFINITELY within the realm of possibility…i.e. when Maidana’s power has been diminished and he’s been peppered early, I think he may be ready to go. And as exciting as Maidana is too watch, he is a league or two beneath Khan in the overall skill department, and we’ll see that in play tonight. Look for a great Khan performance tonight.
@Chris K…so funny Khan almost got the first round KO…and then he was the one who almost got KO’d late…the opposite side of the coin on both of our possible outcomes of the fight. 🙂