The Khan vs Algieri match up has been shunned by fight fans ever since its inception. No one denies the talent of Britain’s Khan, but this fight is, at least on paper, one-sided.
That doesn’t mean Amir Khan is looking past Chris Algieri, the 31-year-old New Yorker with a 21-1, 8 KO record.
Khan accepts public opinion that Algieri won’t come into this fight shining after a nightmare outing with Pacquiao. But he also stated Algieri is no pushover. “He’s beat the likes of Ruslan Provodnikov and Emmanuel Taylor, so he’s been in with some decent names,” Khan told The RING. “It’s a good little test for me.”
The Pacquiao vs Algieri fight was one of the widest victories witnessed in recent times. If you haven’t yet seen the fight, imagine an 11-round swing on the cards, and then throw in more knockdowns than can be counted on one hand.
But Algieri has balls. He had balls taking on Pacquiao (just as he did Provodnikov) – they were just bigger than his skill set. If there’s one thing the Provodnikov fight taught Algieri’s critics, it’s that he can’t be counted out.
And that’s something Algieri’s new trainer John David Jackson strongly believes. The ex Junior and Middleweight Champion said his fighter has a few tricks up his sleeve. Ones many of Algieri’s detractors are yet to see. The pair have been working on power, and will hope to test Khan’s chin: what Jackson feels is Khan’s biggest weakness.
Whether Khan has an ‘unreliable chin’ is something of debate. He’s been rocked on several occasions, particularly in the Julio Diaz fight, and was knocked out by Breidis Prescott and Danny Garcia. But he’s also gone through hell with Argentine banger Marcos Maidana and come away with a Unanimous Decision.
Whatever you’re feeling is, it’s hard to deny the difference in Khan since ditching Freddie Roach for Virgil Hunter. Getting sucked into ‘macho brawls’ has been replaced with strict discipline – something Khan had lacked in prior fights.
Khan, 28, may have Mayweather in sight, but Algieri is also highly motivated. The New Yorker refuses to return to the club circuit and is planning to give his all against Khan. How admirable. Confident of an Algieri victory, no matter the method, Jackson said: “I think Amir is in for a big surprise.”
Odds on favorite Khan will turn up for his ‘Mayweather audition’ with a record of 30-3, 19 KO. And yeah, will be hoping to get a call from ‘somebody’ soon after.
Khan vs Algieri will broadcast live on Spike, May 29th (9pm ET, 6pm PT). Javier Fortuna (27-0-1, 20 KO) and Bryan Vasquez (34-1, 18 KO) will provide chief support on the PBC card, Barclays Center, Brooklyn. UK viewers can also catch the action on Boxnation.
What do you think of this fight, readers? Is Khan vs Algieri really as cut-and-dry as it sounds, or should Algieri’s trainer be listened to? Could Algieri be about to test Britain’s bolt of lightning? And given Algieri’s remarkable chin in his two outings, is it highly likely he will at least go the distance in this battle?
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