Amir Khan: Back To Drawing Board At Wild Card Gym With Freddie Roach

After Round 1 of the exciting Saturday night fight at the Mandalay Bay, Amir Khan looked truly destined as the new Manny Pacquiao in the making.

Some 4,000 boxing fans making up the audience in Las Vegas, as well as millions of people watching on television around the world, were one in saying Khan is indeed the next Manny Pacquiao, as predicted.

The excitement vanished when Argentinean Marcos Maidana surprised Khan with a devastating punch in Round 10 that almost sent the Bolton idol to dreamland. Although Khan managed to stay on until the the sound of the bell, he was visibly shaken and was ready to fall.

Brian Ethridge of Myboxing.com wrote in his column: "At the beginning of Khan’s fight with Maidana, I was almost a believer. King Khan looked faster, stronger and his ring presence looked better than ever. I was amazed at how much Roach was able to improve him in such a short time. But then guess what happened? Maidana tested Khan’s chin and the UK star failed miserably.

"While Khan was never officially knocked down, he was wobbly and ready to go on numerous occasions. The only reason he was lucky enough to stay off the canvas is because he ran away and backpedaled throughout the last half of the fight.

"I don’t want to make this sound like I’m dissing Freddie Roach because I am most certainly not. I think he’d one of the best trainers the sport has ever seen, but nobody can give Khan what he needs to become an elite fighter. Nobody can give him a stronger chin."

Read: Brian Ethridge's full article.

But in fairness to Amir Khan, he has demonstrated a marked improvement both in style and ring savvy compared to his previous fights, where he looked amateurish and at times careless. 

Khan's move to train at Wild Card with hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach has done wonders for the young Briton.

Aside from the most talked about special attention being given to him by Roach, Khan had a rare opportunity to spar on many occasions with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

The hall of fame trainer has acknowledged Khan is a fast learner and being young at 24, he thinks Khan is a potential version of another Pacquiao in the making.

After Saturday night's brawl, critics say Khan has indeed followed Pacquiao's footsteps as he had shown with his rapid and fairly accurate punches, but they seem to be lacking in continuity and cohesion.

But what about Khan's controversial chin?

Brian Ethridge says nobody can give Khan a winning chin, certainly not Freddie Roach. And to become an elite fighter he must have a stronger chin.

Still, critics believe Khan can be developed and trained to overcome his natural weakness, like finding a defensive mechanism for his vulnerable chin.

Manny Pacquiao's right hand was wanting in power until Freddie Roach developed it over the years and effectively used it to supplement the Filipino boxer's awesome punching power as a southpaw.

Knowing Freddie Roach's creativity, critics believe (considering his professional achievements) that Khan can still be the Manny Pacquiao he wants to be in a few years.