Why so much hate for Kahn (and Mundine)?

[Kev]

I really couldn't disagree more. Campbell beat him, no doubt, but it was a close fight early on and it (much like the JMM fight) has the potential to be one of those losses in which a young fighter learns and benefits more from it than he would a victory. Katsidis couldn't land anything of significance on Diaz, he was totally outclassed and the judge who scored the fight for the Aussie should have been immediately dragged behind the arena and summarily executed.

Diaz is 25 years old, and with Marquez and Campbell moving up is still the best lightweight in the world. He gave Marquez all kind of problems in their fight, most people had him sweeping the early rounds and he clearly hurt Marquez a couple of times. That's the same Marquez who is widely considered on par with the best fighter in the world.

I'm not even a huge Diaz fan, I was cheering against him in each of his last three fights (though he really won me over with his performance against Marquez).

I geniunely believe that if he had serious power he would one day be a fixture in the top 5 p4p.

To say he is on the slide is ridiuclous, he's been beating by one great fighter and stopped by one all time great fighter (who he was neck and neck with until the stoppage). Khan, who I like, has been badly hurt numerous times and was brutally knocked out against a mediocre fighter with overrated power. Juan Diaz would absolutely ruin Khan.

I think Diaz vs Khan is a great fight. I don't think either fighter is a shoe in to dominate the other.

Both are great fighters with some tremendous assets and both have weaknesses.

I have to be honest I think Khan could pull it off. Diaz is a relentless puncher but he's not a big puncher, Khan's problem will be when he gets caught by huge shots and Diaz can't do that.

When you look at the size of Amir and his speed, plus his improved defense I really don't think Diaz would find it easy to get inside and unload his combinations.

Khan is exceptionally fast, as is Diaz but Khan is much bigger and has a longer reach. If he keeps Diaz on the end of it and gets his punches off (and Diaz certainly gets hit) I think there's as much chance of Khan stopping Diaz as the other way around.

It's also entirely possible that we have seen the best of Juan Diaz. When a fight gets systematically broken down the blueprint for their demise is already laid out. Against a strong, tough, big punching fighter Diaz is always going to be defeated from now on imo, just like Zab Judah, Edison Miranda, Fernando Vargas etc.

I wouldn't put Khan in with him yet, I'd give him Murray and Katsidis first but if he gets through those fights I think if they did meet Khan would start the betting favourite.

Let's remember that Diaz only fights at lightweight because he's a chunky little fucker after all. If he got into shape he'd probably be fighting at featherweight.

Diaz is far from a murderous puncher, but he can punch a bit. Khan has been hurt by fighters who hit with less power than Diaz. Until Khan proves a fuck of a lot more than he already has, I'll take Diaz every day of the week. Diaz is a relentless fighter with good speed, underrated defense, and a solid chin.

You say the blueprint has been layed out, but Cambell and Marquez beat him two different ways. Campbell stood inside with Diaz, punished his body and bullyed him. Marquez ate a ton of leather while counter-punching. They both hammered his body, but that's hardly a blueprint. Those are two of the best fighters in the world and they're far superior to anyone currently at lightweight.

Khan might beat Diaz, he's got all the physical tools, but until he proves he can properly utilize then against opponents who are of the same class as Diaz, I will heavily favor Diaz.

Campbell was just a veteran pro at the time he beat up Juan Diaz. A Khan win over Diaz would be far less of an upset imo. Campbell had lost every time he had stepped up in class prior to that against, Casamayor, Pedan twice, Lorenzo and Hlathsawyo he certainly wasn't considered one of the best in the world.

A great win for the old man to beat the younger undefeated fighter but if he can pull it off Khan is certainly capable.

Look at the trouble Campbell had with Funeka, had anyone even heard of him before he stopped Raheem? We really don't know if Funeka is all that good, aside from Campbell and Raheem I don't recognise anybody on his record and its worth pointing out that Funeka struggled to outpoint Yakubu Amida (I'm just going off boxrec and the judges scores here, never saw the fight) and even Ricky Burns knocked him out and he hits softer than Malignaggi.

All I'm saying is those who think Amir is miles away from being world class are misleaded imo. In my opinion he's right up there. He's absolutely on the level of Juan Diaz and Nate Campbell it's just a matter of whether Freddie can work on his defense and keep that chin protected.

Just answer me this honestly, if Khan doesn't get hit and stopped by Campbell and Diaz, does he still lose?

If you agree that if his chin (or defense) could stand up to the task that he would have a great chance of winning those fights then you cannot just dismiss his chances of winning as if they'd outclass him.

There's a very real chance that a quality world class fighter lands and knocks him out, I agree with that completely, but there's equally a very good chance that between Amir and Freddie they can come up with a plan to protect that chin (just like Wlad and Emmanuel) and that he can go on to be a dominant and outstanding fighter.