Can Amir Khan Beat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May’s WBC Middleweight Title Fight?
Since he burst onto the scene at the Olympic Games in 2004, Amir Khan has grown and matured into one of British boxing’s household names. While he hasn’t achieved as much as many originally expected, Khan has still won 31 fights, 19 by knockout, and has lost just three during his career. In May, he is set to compete against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the biggest fight of his career so far – in fact, many are calling it ‘career-defining’, and here’s why.
Ultimately, it’s boom or bust for Khan. The Bolton boxer is 29 years old and isn’t getting any younger. In order to truly make a major impact on the boxing world, he must take his chance in front of a packed Las Vegas crowd at the T-Mobile Arena on May 7th. Canelo is a superb fighter and Khan is in for an extremely difficult battle. If he wins, then, and only then, Khan will take his place at the forefront of world boxing – and deservedly so.
Canelo has lost just once in 48 fights and even then, that was against the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr. Khan’s decision to take on this boxing superstar has been hailed as brave but will that still be the case after May’s bout? Only time will tell. At the time of writing, Coral are pricing Khan at 3/1 and while many British punters will be backing the challenger, it would be a bold move to back against the vicious defending champion.
Khan is looking to join the likes of Alan Minter, Terry Downes and Randy Turpin in the British boxing history books. If he wins, he will become just the fourth Briton to clinch the lineal middleweight crown and the first in almost four decades. In addition, Khan has never competed at middleweight level before. In fact, he will be eight pounds above the highest engaged weight of his career against the Mexican.
Realistically, this fight will come down to two main factors: one, can Khan’s chin cope with the Mexican’s fiery punch? Canelo has over 30 victories by KO and the Bolton boxer will need to be very wary and keep his guard up. If Khan begins to tire, Canelo may find it easy to pick him off. Khan will be working tirelessly in the gym ahead of May’s bout but it’s almost impossible to train for the real thing. Spectators will know almost immediately whether Khan is in ship-shape to compete against the superior Mexican athlete.
Secondly, the travelling support may spur Khan on. For example, it’s like putting Tyson Fury in the ring with David Haye. You bet Tyson Fury is the favourite to win but you want to cheer the underdog on. Khan will have plenty of British support in Las Vegas and the Greater Manchester star could be crowned middleweight champion if he executes his plan to near perfection. Khan WILL have a plan and if all goes well, Britain could have a new champion.
Only time will tell but British boxing could have yet another title holder if Khan can defy all of the odds and beat Mexico’s Canelo in Vegas. It won’t be easy but, with the right tactics and direction, there’s absolutely no reason whatsoever why the 29-year-old cannot announce his name on the biggest stage of all in a brand-new weight division.
