On the heels of dropping two of his last three bouts, one a controversial split decision loss to Lamont Peterson, and the other a devastating knockout defeat suffered at the hands of Ring Magazine Champion Danny Garcia, Amir “King” Khan (26-3, 18 KO’s) in moving forward is eager to get back to his winning ways.
Afforded just such an opportunity, the former unified junior welterweight champion of Bolton, England will be featured in the main event at the Los Angeles Sports Arena this Saturday night, as he squares off with undefeated relative unknown Carlos Molina (17-0-1, 7 KO’s) of nearby Rosemead, California for the vacant WBC Silver junior welterweight title.
And with many considering this a set up bout of sorts where it’s assumed that Khan is to pick up where he left off prior to suffering those aforementioned defeats, the upset minded Carlos Molina will be looking to flip the script. Molina, and not the Carlos Molina who fought James Kirkland not so long ago, is simply on a mission to topple Khan one way or the other in the hopes of setting himself up for a title opportunity of his own.
“This is the biggest fight of my career,” stated Molina. “Come December 15th the whole world’s gonna know who I am. I’m ready for those elite fighters. I think Amir Khan’s up there with those elite fighters. Me beating Khan, I’m gonna be ready for that world title. That’s what I trained so hard for. This is going to be my coming out party. I’m not here just to put on a good fight or last twelve rounds, I’m here to win.”
With Molina being the much shorter as well as reach disadvantaged fighter here, he will be counting on Amir to at some point languish in the pocket to trade with him, something that cost “King” Khan his crown against Garcia, and something that has his upcoming opponent licking his chops. “He likes to get in fights, so once I start landing those shots and he starts letting his hands fly, I think that’s the position I want him to be in,” commented a calculating Molina.
Counter to that theory the Pakistani Brit, now under the tutelage of 2011 “Trainer of the Year” Virgil Hunter, will endeavor to avoid such a scenario. “I started to maybe rely on power and exchange with opponents when I don’t need to. My style is to hit, move, and be smart,” said Amir. “We’ve made mistakes and we’re not gonna make them mistakes again, and that’s why I’ve changed everything around with the trainer, with everything. They’re gonna see an new Amir Khan and a new fighter in the ring.”
And as regards his pupil’s progress, Hunter would chime in. “I couldn’t have asked for a better student. He’s coachable. Early on a disservice had been done to him because they [Freddie Roach & company] were so enamored with his ability that they didn’t cover the small things that should’ve been covered to round him out. There’s just some things he shouldn’t be doing.”
Virgil would continue on. “Anybody that has an eye for boxing will recognize that he’s [Amir Khan] made great strides and he’s made great achievements in these past eight weeks and that if he continues to go in that direction, he’s on to something great. I can assure you of that.”
And in Virgil perhaps referring to Khan’s most visible of flaws, that being his chin, he would state that “he [Khan] never did neck work in his life.” With this observation it appears that coach Hunter is equating fortified neck muscles with Khan being able to demonstrate a better set of whiskers, a reasonable assumption as regards that which up to now has proven quite vulnerable.
However, even though Virgil Hunter may be correct as regards reducing the effect of certain flush shots, overall this may be wishful thinking on his part. It just seems readily apparent that Khan is vulnerable from the neck up period.
Witness the fact that in his bout with Danny Garcia, Amir would suffer a knockdown the result of a blow to the side of the neck, while he would further appear to become debilitated from a grazing shot to the top of the head. These are less than traditional targets of which strengthened neck muscles would seem to play no role as far as preventing or lessening the adverse effects Khan seems to suffer.
In light of this Carlos Molina in stepping up to the elite level for the first time, although having his work cut out for him, may have a chance. If he can catch up to Khan to test whether or not Amir’s made strides in being able to take a punch, then this may turn the trick for the underdog. However, with Carlos coming in with a mere 38% knockout ratio, it’s hard to tell what type of effect his punches will have if at all.
That’s why to me it’s a safe bet to go with a wiser, refocused, rededicated Amir Khan, who at the very least should be able to come away with the decision victory. Because of “King” Khan’s experience level in comparison to that of Molina, simply returning back to what has worked for him in the past, that being his somewhat amateurish hit, run, and grab tactics, this should bode well for Amir come fight night.
Elaborated Khan, “we know about the boxing arena. We’re going to stick with that and we’re going to stick to the skills and be smart of everything because that’s what’s got me this far. I don’t care if the fight goes 12 rounds, just as long as I give Carlos Molina a boxing lesson. That loss against Garcia has made me a better fighter because it’s made me more focused and more hungry.”
Not to totally write Carlos Molina off, but in finality I firmly believe that by the end of the night the more important question will be, how will Khan’s reformation play out when he’s confronted with the likes of another elite fighter?
Khan vs. Molina is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Silver junior welterweight title, and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions, as well as sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
In the co-featured attractions, charismatic unbeaten knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (25-0, 25 KO’s) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama will face off with Kelvin Price (13-0, 6 KO’s) of Pensacola, Florida in a clash of undefeated’s for the vacant WBC Continental Americas heavyweight championship.
Additionally, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (21-2, 18 KO’s) of Los Angeles, California by way of Mexicali, Mexico takes on Jorge Silva (18-2-2, 14 KO’s) of Chula Vista, California in a ten round junior middleweight clash.
The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast begins live at 10:30 pm ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with a 10-round welterweight bout featuring rising star Shawn “Showtime” Porter (20-0, 14 KO’s) of Akron, Ohio who will clash with former world champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-7, 29 KO’s) of Coachella, California to air live on Showtime Extreme beginning at 9:00 pm ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
In the Sky Sports 1HD telecast beginning at 2:00 am GMT on Sunday, December 16th, non-stop action fighter Leo Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) of Los Angeles, California will defend his IBF bantamweight world title against Alberto Guevara (16-0, 6 KO’s) of San Diego, California in a battle of unbeaten’s, while 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph Diaz Jr. of El Monte, California makes his pro debut against Northfield, Minnesota’s Vicente Alfaro (5-2, 1 KO) in the opening bout of the live 90-minute CBS broadcast that will begin at 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT.
Admission is free to the afternoon event that will also include three of Diaz’s U.S. Olympic teammates, Errol Spence of Brentwood, NY, Marcus Browne of Staten Island, NY, and Dominic Breazeale of Alhambra, CA who all made their professional debuts on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation on November 9th.
