Sorry folks, but Amir Khan’t fight
IT FINALLY became clear he was a pure dud so there should be a move to prevent a repeat of this Las Vegas farce starring a British subject who couldn’t put up a fight.
Amir Khan, listed as the WBA super lightweight king, didn’t even have half a warrior’s heart.
The tragic comedy happened Saturday night at the famed Mandalay Bay, where excited Londoners swarmed, cheered and embraced the native of Pakistan as their own.
Remember how the Philippines proudly presented Manny Pacquiao to the world during the Beijing Olympics, when the Filipino treasure of a superhero was tapped to carry the national flag during the opening rites?
***
Don’t expect any self-respecting Londoner to even mention Khan to visitors during the 2012 Olympic Games.
Unlike Pacquiao, Khan was undeserving of the royal treatment accorded him in his adopted hometown.
OK, they can’t be expected to disown Khan outright.
Pardon this, but Khan, no jewel indeed, was also glowing garbage on Saturday night.
***
“I was a little surprised the ref stopped it,” Khan told Reuters. “My mind was clear, and I thought my legs were okay.”
Khan said it wasn’t his night.
He added Danny Garcia, now the WBC and WBA 140-lb champion, was countering quite well.
Khan was right.
But granting that his mind was clear, where was his heart?
***
For the record, his guts deserted him as Khan beat a hasty retreat after being tagged hard.
In fairness, he did have a sensational start.
Garcia was boxing overcautiously.
The roof however fell on Khan once Garcia dumped the original script.
Garcia, who had beaten the legendary Erik Morales to annex the WBC version of the super lightweight crown, started connecting as he backed his airtight defense with thudding shots.
He landed a left that sent Khan down hard on his back like a log.
***
It was a funny fall, made doubly comic by the fact that it was not a blur of a perfect shot Garcia had landed.
It was not a book-form hook to the chin, but more a slap on the neck.
This means they should check again to determine if Khan really had a glass jaw.
It was, in truth, easier to suspect Khan had fallen more in terror, not due to a sharp shot.
***
OK, Khan was saved by the bell that ended the third round.
Garcia continued with the sharp chase early in the fourth round.
Khan retreated but was caught, floored again.
He did beat the count, but referee Kenny Bayless prudently halted the bout.
Khan half-protested but next submitted humbly.
Looking back, Khan could be right in claiming he had a clear mind.
Unfortunately, his nerves, represented by his trembling legs betrayed him.
What was doubly bewildering was how this malady of the guts had escaped trainer Freddie Roach all these years.
Did Roach not hear of that incident in the Pacquiao training camp in Baguio when it got rudely confirmed that Khan was incapable of putting up a fight once the fight gets going?
