Amir "King" Khan has fully rebuilt himself since back-to-back losses in 2012, and now appears to be the frontrunner to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. this fall in what could be Mayweather's last fight. The biggest obstacle-aside from Mayweather potentially waiting until 2016 to fight a rematch with Manny Pacquiao-is a May 29 bout on Spike TV vs. Chris Algieri.
Khan will be favored to beat Algieri, but Khan's been adamant he isn't looking past the Long Island-born underdog. Here are the top three reasons Khan is smart not to overlook Algieri.
Jabs Destroy Game Plans
Amir Khan believes he is the solution to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s vaunted shoulder roll defense because of his combination of hand speed and ring IQ. If he is truly that skilled, then he should walk right through a guy like Algieri, who has only fought once above 140 pounds and was knocked down six times in that bout, a loss to Manny Pacquiao.
What was lost in the Pacquiao fight is that Algieri employs one of boxing's best jabs, which he used to incredible effect in his upset over Ruslan Provodnikov that earned him the WBO junior welterweight title. Khan is aggressive and skilled, but Algieri won't be easy to catch on May 29. He will circle around, and keep that jab pumping in Khan's face. It will be up to Khan to find his way around it and hurt him.
Conditioning Advantage Is A Toss Up
Algieri's superior conditioning was a major storyline ahead of his bout with Pacquiao as Algieri boasted he would make the unrelenting Pacman feel old inside the ring by the late rounds. That didn't happen, but it remains true that Algieri can go the full 12 rounds without slowing down. He managed to do that vs. Provodnikov even though he was knocked down twice in Round 1 and spent Rounds 5 through 12 boxing with one eye closed.
This doesn't mean that Khan will be worn down, but it does mean that he can't outlast Algieri until he becomes a sitting duck late. Khan will have to work, and he may not look great at times-that could be an issue if Mayweather in September is the goal.
Khan's Chin
Nobody is expecting Algieri to be "let out of the cage" here and unleash an onslaught on Khan. Algieri is a boxer first and foremost, who moves constantly, keeps his jab out there, and rarely goes for the kill. That said, Khan has a reputation of having a weak chin, and beating fringe welterweights like Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander won't change that. Even if Algieri's not a big puncher, anyone can be caught on the wrong day.
Algieri's movement and jab may frustrate Khan and make him reckless, and recklessness is what gets fighters KO'd.
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