Amir Khan: Gone in a minute?

Eurosport - Tue, 09 Sep 12:22:00 2008

Amir Khan's boxing career lies in tatters after unheralded Colombian Breidis Prescott dispatched him in just 54 seconds at the MEN Arena.

BOXING 2008 England's Amir Khan reacts by his trainer Jorge Rubio, left, after his first round knockout by Breidis Prescott of Columbia - 0

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist looked a world champion in the making when he turned professional four years ago but the devastating manner of this defeat suggests that the 21-year-old may have no future in the fight game.

Until last night, everything was going to plan and Khan entered the ring with 18 wins to his name and his unbeaten record intact.

However, even against mediocre opponents, suspicions were raised about Khan's chin as he suffered knockdowns in fights against three unfancied fighters.

Rachid Drilzane, a French journeyman, decked Khan in 2006 before Willie Lamond had him on the canvas in July last year. To lose your legs once is careless. To do so twice raises eyebrows. Khan was then dropped again in his last fight versus the aging Irishman Michael Gomez.

Notably, none of these three fighters were renowned for their punching power. That's why Prescott seemed a strange fight to make because the Columbian had an impressive string of knock-outs to his name.

Prescott lived up to his reputation, brutally smashing Khan to the canvas after just 25 seconds and sealing the win inside one minute.

Despite his power, Prescott isn't the fastest and Khan should have had the quality to send his opponent packing by utilizing his superior speed, technique and work-rate.

However, to see off Prescott, Khan was always going to have to absorb a few shots. He couldn't. Prescott had Khan's legs wobbling with a jab and, when faced with heavy artillery, Khan crumpled to the ground with alarming alacrity.

The Bolton fighter will hope to dismiss the knock-out as a lucky shot, ŕ la Lennox Lewis, but will struggle to dispel the belief that he simply can't take a punch.

Critics of British boxing will seize on this defeat to bemoan the too-much too-soon culture surrounding any youngster who demonstrates potential.

By contrast to Khan, Prescott has had to fight for everything to escape the mean streets of Barranquilla. Prior to the fight he said, "Khan gets paid a fortune and lives a life of luxury in the UK, and I will prove that he is nothing but a pampered baby."

There were no doubts over Prescott's motivation. "This is my chance to secure my legacy, and the future of my family back home," he said. Khan entered the ring a millionaire, despite a lack of meaningful professional fights or titles.

Khan's demise will remind fight fans of Errol Christie, another dazzling amateur who turned pro and built an impressive record, before being dispatched in one round by the unheard-of Belgian Jose Seys in 1984.

Despite being a master technician and declared "magnificent" by Emanuel Steward, Christie was never the same again and his promise evaporated.

With Frank Warren's promotional talents, Khan may be able to eke out a career as a domestic entertainer, even if his weak chin keeps him away from boxing's top table.

Warren noted before the fight that "the crowds come to watch Amir because he takes risks just like Nigel Benn before him." That risk-taking cost Khan last night and he should never have stood toe-to-toe with a powerhouse like Prescott.

Warren was still behind his prospect at the end, announcing he would fight again in December. "He's not the first fighter to be beat and come back to win world titles," Warren said. But not many fighters have scaled the heights with his charge's apparent inability to take punishment.

Amir Khan may do well to remember the words of the famously glass-jawed former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, "They said I was the fighter who got knocked down the most, but I also got up the most." For Khan now, the challenge is getting up.

James Garner / Eurosport

Comment 101 - 120 of 120

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  1. im sorry who is the world champ?....KHAN IS KING LOL...HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

    From jd, on Mon 28 Sep 6:49PM

  2. It's like watching STALLONE ON ROCKY 4,training himself in a very modest way while his opponent trains a very high tech and pampered way.\\\LESSONS TO BE LEARNED;;;;
    1. BE HUMBLE
    2. ALWAYS LOOK BACK WHERE U CAME FROM.
    3. DO YOUR JOB B4 u brag!!!

    AKLANON2

    From quimpo_john, on Tue 9 Sep 12:28PM

  3. No wonder English sport is a joke especially the football team all you do is abuse them when they lose. You lot deserve no success!

    From bry187uk, on Tue 9 Sep 11:17AM

  4. Some of these guys who comment on here obviously have never boxed. He got caught plain and simple- it happens.

    He should be fighting for a british title first. Then European then world.

    From bry187uk, on Tue 9 Sep 10:59AM

  5. lets all laugh at kahn,lets all laugh at khan na na na na na na na na

    From Wayne, on Tue 9 Sep 10:28AM

  6. Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from making mistakes. Great fighters has loss once or twice in their careers for example Tyson, Lennox, Brunu..... Each fight is a learning curve and a channel to become a better fighter/boxer in the future.
    Great people comes great, not because they are perfect but because they learn from their mistakes. Every cloud has got a silver lining.
    The good thing Khan has done, is the courage to stand up to the fight. At 21 yrs, he has got a lion heart. Fear is an inner self defeat, he was not afraid to fight anybody threwn at him. Khan believe in himself, which is one of the good qualities of a great man.
    There is nothing to regret in the fight. It only tells Khan the areas to work on.
    Khan has made his family and the British people proud! Khan is Great!

    From simple71a2003, on Mon 8 Sep 11:50PM

  7. at last he got hit, and now we see the truth

    From WANDBEARER, on Mon 8 Sep 11:38PM

  8. probally the best thing to have happened to him all this im going to be a world champion before im 21 .frank warren doesnt help, the other guy was hungry for it they are brought up hard .lets hope he learns from this because he has a long way to go before he can fight for a world belt.chin up khan or maybe not .

    From john, on Mon 8 Sep 10:17PM

  9. Lateral fighters--Mc Guigan, Herol Graham, Bruno, Naz Hamed etc etc! I pity the punters who buy the hype!

    From Anjeh Timbang, on Mon 8 Sep 10:09PM

  10. Let us all try to keep touch with reality here, the truth is we Brits have built Khan up to be something far more than he ever will be. He's not the first nor shall he be the last, he quite simply is not a world class contender. He has had sucess in the past because he has been allowed to fight nobodys.

    From Andy, on Mon 8 Sep 9:48PM

  11. serves him right for going to sky

    From darrel179pascoe@..., on Mon 8 Sep 7:47PM

  12. there is no point in going for a night out with khan cos he wont do a round

    From dsime487@..., on Mon 8 Sep 6:58PM

  13. This loss is the best thing to have happened to Amir Khan and to British boxing as a whole. He is a unique and talented guy who has the sky to reach for but...... And this is a big big but has he any motivation? At the begining he was was quite o.k cos he was very hungry and motivated but after a while he seems to have lost hi way, buying flash cars, running his mouth like no man's business, living the life of a celebrity. As a sportsman you can't eat your cake and have it. You are either dedicated and disciplined or just forget about reaching any lofty heights.In every disappointment there is always a blessing so in a way the defeat is a good thing for him. its going to serve as a wakeup call for him. Shun the fast cars and bright lights, keep your head down and train like the devil is on your case, easier said than done b ut thats just what he needs to do.He's got the talent and he got age on his side, so ge up your pants and get stuck in Bro, we believe in you and what you can achieve . And by the way am black and African so to all your stupid racist saying stuffs like go back to your country, shame on you all. he was alright and British when he was winning right? Shame on you all shame on you all once more and i feel sorry for all your children cos they will all grow up to be losers like you. racist and on the dole.

    From damola, on Mon 8 Sep 6:08PM

  14. Don't worry about people. Frank Warren knows whats right for himself, so we should find out he has dropped khan soon. Otherwise he will get him to fight another nobody, Khan will win and he will call it something like "Kahn't keep me down". Khan is not world class and I can't ever see him ever being world class. Fast hands won't stop a glass chin from being smashed. Plus you can bugger off with this box office @#$%, I won't pay to watch this joker.

    From wilsonlufc, on Mon 8 Sep 5:51PM

  15. i CAnt believe how many racists are on here lol....Amir khans got speed prop one of fastest in the sport thats a fact proven by stats and equippment....but he can come good to be honest to a world class level if he improves on his defense....And now lets get to racists Lennox Lewis was one of the shitest boxers ever....he fought guys that were totally finished and they where thier for the money...rahman on itv knocked him out...haha then comes flying 3flags fought for jamaica..canada...and britan...so compare him and khan...frank warren pampered him aswell and oh yeah lennox lewis belonged to 3countrys so why didnt any1 say he should go back home...their aint a good british boxer unless his a coloured guy remember that drink the beer and cheer the guy.... the true boxers where in when tyson got locked up and before days they never had chosen fights they fought who ever was the best and they where true boxers ali era were all magnificent...

    From outlawz2005uk, on Mon 8 Sep 5:29PM

  16. Why is anybody making a mention of him running his mouth, its boxin for fu.ck sake. Its all part of the excitement and build up to a big event. They guys are risking life and limb for our entertainment, quite right they should talk up there chances to earn extra cash. Ronaldo/Rooney etc getting millions a year, quite right these guys should make as much as they can.

    From Craig T, on Mon 8 Sep 3:37PM

  17. amir khan`t

    From sana, on Mon 8 Sep 3:35PM

  18. And yet you want to fight Manny Pacquiao? that's a crazy idea. Khan has got no right even to mention the names of world class fighters for in fact he is never and will never be in their level. For a good boxer to be respected by many, prove yourself first in the ring before you throw praises for yourself. Fight with your MIGHT, not with your MOUTH!

    From lemmor n, on Mon 8 Sep 2:59PM

  19. Irving88, you obviously have had no challenges in your life, I think you have lived your miserable life feeding off other people loses. You gotta understand sometimes you need to fall to learn from your mistakes.Why are you so wrapped up against ethnic minorities? You need to open your stupid mind and see what is happening around the world and give credit where it's due. Khan and Lewis did their bit for Queen & Country,
    what have you done for your Country? You Stupid fool!
    From Tony@Cambridge.

    From Anthony, on Mon 8 Sep 2:55PM

  20. What goes around comes around. That's why you shouldn't run your mouth. I think this is the best thing to happen to khan, better sooner than later. Now reality sets in. He now realises what level he is at. I remember his last fight how he was saying he wanted a title shot but warren said no one or two more fights. Warren knew he wasn't ready. The only person to think he was ready was himself. All khan thinks about is himself but from now on he'll consider his opponents. If he has guts and comes back to the ring then he'll be a better fighter. You only know how strong you really are when you get defeated. I hope he comes back, but I no title shot for the next 3 years.

    From The Joker, on Mon 8 Sep 1:24PM
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