Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri
Photo by Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
This is a fight of happenstance. Amir Khan has looked desperate in attempts to get the golden ticket in boxing: a fight with Floyd Mayweather. Chris Algieri could unknowingly be the coincidental Wonka bar that conceals a golden ticket, much like Andre Berto was a few years ago.
Tracing the footsteps of his former trainer’s star pupil, Manny Pacquiao, couldn’t hurt; or could it?
Algieri is the most favored white-collar boxer I can remember since the “Boxing Banker,” Calvin Brock. He’s been upfront about using the fight game to fund and further his education in nutritional science. To quote Ray Leonard, “Boxing is a poor man’s sport.”
Not that Algieri is affluent, but he’s been given and made the most of opportunities inside the ring. Outside the ring, he’s been fortunate in ways that many pro boxers, contemporary or historically, aren’t afforded.
Always the underdog, Algieri has never had all his eggs in one basket. That doesn’t mean he’s not coming to win.
Unfortunately for Algieri, Khan has bigger advantages in hand speed, experience, and power. It should be noted that Khan has lost to fighters less talented than he is and his questionable chin could once again derail his aspirations by the not-so-heavy hands of Algieri.
I think Khan relies on his speed and combination punching to decision Algieri, who has a solid beard, despite being dropped six times by the second best fighter of our generation.
Prediction: Khan
Michael Burnell, Staff Writer
Neither have much experience at full welterweight so that’s fairly even. I think Amir Khan will be able to match Chris Algieri’s speed, but has more power.
Khan has a better skill set than Ruslan Provodnikov (who couldn’t stop Algieri) though not as potent as Manny Pacquiao (who also didn’t stop Algieri).
Provo is flatfooted and easy to hit and Algieri barely was able to get the points win.
Prediction: Khan
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: Khan
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The big question here is can Amir Khan keep his focus with a possible ticket ready to be punched to the Floyd Mayweather circus. Could Wembley Stadium possibly host such an event?
Chris Algieri is a likable guy. He has guts and I will never question his courage. In the past, he lacked the type of corner that could help him improve his skills and compete at this level. He was completely lost against Pacquiao. Enter new trainer John David Jackson. Jackson is proven with experience both in the ring and in the corner.
Khan, aside from the question about his chin that will never go away, won’t have it tested against Algieri.
I like Khan. Too skilled, too fast, too strong, and too seasoned a fighter at this stage of his career.
Smart money is by decision but he has something to prove. Don’t be surprised if he stops an improved Algieri.
Prediction: Khan
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Amir Khan has a lot riding on this one. Chris Algieri–at least to me–has little to lose and A LOT to gain. The one variable that could shake things up a bit is John David Jackson, Algieri’s new trainer.
Tim Lane is no longer in a position to let anyone out of a cage, so it’s up to Jackson to light a fire under Algieri. I think Algieri can certainly be better than he was against Manny Pacquiao, but regardless of what tricks Jackson has shown him, this is Khan’s fight.
Khan will use hand speed and combinations to take the fight to Algieri and likely win by decision.
Prediction: Khan
