HBO Protecting Amir Khan? Industry Chatter is Shocking
Posted by: Rick Reeno on 02-04-2010
This past Tuesday, I broke the news regarding an agreement being reached for a junior welterweight slugfest between WBA interim-champion Marcos Maidana and unbeaten Victor Cayo, which is scheduled for March 27 on HBO.
I received a shocking phone call Wednesday night from promoter Gary Shaw, who is currently in Mexico for this Saturday's Showtime card that features Edwin Valero vs. Antonio DeMarco. Shaw wanted to know if I had heard, or had any information, regarding the industry chatter with respect to the contract terms for the Maidana-Cayo fight. Prior to Shaw's phone call, I heard strange rumblings about the contract terms in question.
Shaw made a very good financial offer to Golden Boy for a fight between Maidana and WBC champion Timothy Bradley and they turned it down. He found the entire situation strange because there was good money involved, and a major title, but his curiosity was really poked when he, like me, began to hear some very strange rumors throughout the day.
From what Shaw had heard from several friends in the industry, there is a very interesting contract clause connected to the Maidana-Cayo fight. What is the clause you ask? Basically the winner has to stay away from WBA 140-pound champion Amir Khan for a period of twelve months or three fights - whichever comes first.
I'm sure some people are asking - "Why would the winner agree to that?" Well, there is a good answer for that. Several sources told BoxingScene the winner would receive a guarantee for a certain number of future HBO appearances [I heard at least two dates] and they don't come easy these days.
I decided to call several people insiders, and sure enough, everyone had heard the same exact thing.
One major promoter told BoxingScene.com - "I can't believe HBO is negotiating step-asides for Amir Khan. Are they a network or a promotional company?"
Another major promoter said - "Why are you surprised? Do you really think Golden Boy Promotions and HBO want Khan to lose any time soon? Look at Khan's fight with Marquez. Both of them are with Golden Boy and you can see the favoritism for Khan to win in their comments to the press. They did the same thing to Barrera and that's why he left."
Shaw doesn't know if the industry chatter is true, but everyone is talking about it. From my end, I called several promoters and well-connected managers and all of them had knowledge of these rumors. You know the old saying - where there's smoke, there's fire.
"It's very strange. I tried to make a fight for Bradley with Maidana and Amir Khan. They both refused which is highly unusual because there was good money involved and they would fight the number one junior welterweight in the world for the WBC title. If this is supposed to be HBO's next superstar [Khan], then how does he turn down a fight with the best 140-pounder in the world? If they don't want to fight Bradley, Vic Darchinyan is available," Shaw said
Because if Khan meets a prime banger like Maidana he will get fucking sparked and they know it.
Wow, that's horrible. And I like Khan.
Looks like Khan is scheduled to fight Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden on the 15th May.
He shouldn't have too many problems with Malignaggi.
LordSeano - Because if Khan meets a prime banger like Maidana he will get fucking sparked and they know it.
The Malignaggi match is further proof of the above point
I think Freddie Roach is trying to polish Khan up a little before he throws him in against a tough opponent.
Which is perfectly fine. But Amir needs to give up the belt if he's going to be doing that instead of fighting his mandatories.
Also, I'm mildly interested in seeing a fight against Malignaggi in NYC. Could be fun just to see how well he handles a slick boxer like Paulie.
Well holy fuck, they are matching him up vs a feather-fisted boxer with something of a name. About the least they could get away with without being fucking laughed out of town?
There is only one Ricky Hatton.
Khan imho is VERY overated !
Yes he has great skill and YES he has the potential to be awesome but man is he protected !
He was protected in the uk (he called gomez 'world class' after beating him, haha) a past his prime barrera and a bunch of other no marks.
Cant stand watching him nowadays.
Khan won that fight on a cut. If Marco hadn't been cut by that headbutt he would have come on in the later rounds.
lueng jon - Khan won that fight on a cut. If Marco hadn't been cut by that headbutt he would have come on in the later rounds.
I think the probability of Khan's victory would also have been decreased if Barrera wasn't a jaded bantamweight that should have retired years ago and should have never fought at 135.
Hey guys, wouldn't it have been novel if - one his way to the "world championship" - Khan had rematched Prescott instead of fighting hand-picked opponents? Like they used to do in the old days?
After mitchell smashed prescott there is no way they would ever risk it.
Prescott has lost twice since beating Khan. Otherwise they would have re-matched them.
What's their excuse for not having him defend against Maidana, the mandatory challenger to his title?
DJ, it's pretty obvious that Freddie Roach and company are keeping him away from big punchers like Prescott and Maidana.
And that they are cherry picking feather fisted opponents for him like Salita and Malignaggi.
It's shameful really. You can't possibly support that?
Nothing in common except that neither of them can crack an egg...
I am with Poundforpound on this one. Khan is going to get very coddled through his career with handpicked opponents.
In the Times today apparently Golden Boy have said that they want Khan to be fighting the likes of Mayweather or Pac in 18 months time.<br />
<br />They apparently have a plan for him, and Malignaggi is the starter.
The Times, March 12, 2010
Amir Khan sets timeline for title showdown with Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather
Amir Khan expects his next adventure to be the most exciting of his life. Today he begins the build-up to his American debut, having been told by Golden Boy, his new promoter, that it expects him to be sharing a ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao in 18 months.
A press conference in Leicester Square at lunchtime today will confirm that Khan will make the second defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York, on May 15.
It will be his first bout since signing with Golden Boy, the American promotional company of Oscar De La Hoya, after it tempted him away from Frank Warren, who had promoted him since he turned professional after winning an Olympic silver medal as a 17-year-old. The secret to winning his ear? Talk big.
“They have laid out a plan that over the next 18 months I will be fighting the likes of Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather — big, big names,” Khan, 23, said. “Not just yet, maybe 18 months. But that is what we are aiming for. If they are seeing me with those guys, they must see something in me. Time will tell if they are right.”
...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/boxing/article7058856.ece