Public opinion on Amir Khan is always certain to raise a debate, but one thing that can never be doubted is the excitement and drama he brings to a boxing ring.
Blessed with super natural hand speed, in full flow his boxing prowess is a sight to behold, but as is the case for many blessed with genius, that genius often comes with a blatant flaw.
In Amir’s case that flaw, is the apparent inability to hold a shot and on Saturday night in Birmingham he found himself on the canvas once again, when a big right hand tagged him at the end of the second round.
Earlier in the round Khan’s blistering speed had Samuel Vargas in a world of trouble and when Vargas hit the floor, it looked like another routine comeback bout. However, Khan, ever predictable in his unpredictability kept the viewers hooked, as he threatened in equal measure of both scoring or suffering a knockout.
In the end he cruised to an almost shut out victory, but as with many of Khan’s bouts the scorecards did not tell the full story of the fight.
Kell Brook at ringside as expected, told Jonny Nelson at the fight’s conclusion, that if he had Khan in the same sort of distress, there is no way he would let him off the hook.
I must say, despite being in awe Khan’s awesome speed – I have to agree.
Across the pond former Brook victim Shawn Porter took the WBC Welterweight crown with a unanimous points decision over Khan conqueror Danny Garcia. That result seemingly ratifies a Brook win over Khan should they ever meet. But as we know, anything can happen in boxing – as styles make fights.
That is certainly true when Jason Welborn and Tommy Langford step through the ropes together, as they produced another classic, with Welborn continuing the Indian Summer to his 13 year pro career, as he retained the British Middleweight Title.
The VIP interest on the Birmingham bill was provided by former Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Scott Fitzgerald.
With the hype train starting to gather pace around a December showdown with Anthony Fowler, ‘Fitzy’ was expected to put in a performance that sent out a warning.
As it transpired it was a workmanlike performance and a close battle of wills, until Scott found the answers in the final round and duly ended proceedings with a left hook.
Although probably not the display he intended, upon reflection Scott can take many positives from the fight. Crucially he got almost 10 rounds in the bank and proved that he carries his power into the championship rounds – experience that could prove vital, should he meet his former GB teammate later in the year.
Looking to the week ahead, there is plenty for boxing fans to be excited about as VIPs Marc Leach meets Louis Norman in an English Bantamweight Title Eliminator at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester.
Oh and I almost forgot, there the matter of a rematch at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and it seems to be causing a bit of a stir!