10 Things We Learned From Amir Khan VS Marcos Maidana In Las Vegas Last Saturday

The much anticipated fight of Amir Khan vs Marcos Maidana certainly lived up to the hype, and then some.

It definitely earned a fight of the year worthy contention for it had it all action, drama, blood, guts, glory, heart, ups and downs, comebacks and controversy.

10. First off, it was evident that Khan has already become the next big UK sensation to storm the United States, as hundreds of UK soccer uniform outfits could be seen anywhere you walked around the Mandalay Bay this weekend.

Even though the Mandalay Bay was nowhere near sold out, it was clear that it was a pro Khan UK crowd that packed in the events center.

This is a very good sign of his drawing power already becoming a force. With his big hearted performance against the dangerous heavy handed Maidana, he will only win over more fans.

9. Everyone is a big Khan fan for some reason, especially Joe Cortez.

Look fight fans, I saw the fight ringside from the media section—I was about six rows from the ring. Now, it could have just been the angle that I viewed the fight from, but I was under the strong impression that referee Joe Cortez must be a huge Khan fan to save him as many times as he did.

It appeared just when Maidana really had Amir in trouble against the ropes and was ready to TKO him, Cortez was there to make sure it did not happen.

I have not yet to see the fight replay on HBO, but if my ringside memory serves me correctly, the 10th round was very blatantly obvious that Cortez either is secretly Khan's father or he may have put a lot of money on Khan to win or at least go the distance.

Am I literally accusing Cortez of this? No, but his behavior would give one the impression that he was really doing so.

8. Marcos Maidana is a true warrior; if you were not a fan of Maidana, now you are one.

That wicked body shot landed on Maidana told all of us in attendance in the Mandalay Bay that we were going to be able to eat an early dinner after all.

But then what happens? Maidana gets up from what was the best body shot knock down of 2010 to not only continue on fighting, but to make a case for himself to win the fight.

Maidana ate clean shots to his chin from the superior fast flurries landed on him through out the fight and what did he do he kept coming forward as a true warrior would do.

7. The media and fans get mad when you don't make weight.

So I was eating the free media buffet, as anyone with common sense would do, and just as Joan Guzman was coming to the ring, a significant amount of the media left their seats to come over to the media room to eat as well and so did a lot of fight fans leave to grab drinks and use the bathroom.

It was almost like they were all almost boycotting Guzman for coming in four pounds too heavy. 

Even when Guzman dominated his opponent Jason Davis with ease to a one-sided second round KO, still much of the crowd did not even applaud his win.

6. Victor Ortiz is probably one of the nicest fighters outside the ring.

I personally had Ortiz winning his fight with Lamont Peterson based on winning the majority of the first half of the fight, being the more aggressive, busier fighter, pressing the action and of course the knockdowns.

But what many of you do not know was when Ortiz got up at the podium in the post fight conference, he was all smiles as usual and he even expressed how he never says anything bad about his opponents or even the judges when they give him a decision that he does not agree with.

Ortiz also even made a joke to all the UK media present about Harry Potter, which made most of us laugh. Afterward, he went up to Timothy Bradley to shake his hand and wish him well.

If Ortiz does not have good karma coming soon then I do not know a man who does.

5. Roy Jones Jr is still very much loved and adored by mostly everyone.

During his breaks between commentating, most of the celebrities, athletes, fine ladies and other fighters were all coming up to him to shake his hand and take his picture.

I've yet to see the HBO replay of the fight so I never heard his commentating of the fight but if it is anywhere as good as his last two most recent fights he called, then that is 3-0 for the former pound for pound legend.

4. Marcos Maidana is one funny dude.

For a hardcore knock out artist beast who can not be stopped like Maidana, you would think he has the personality of a killing machine as well.

Well, guess what? You are wrong.

Maidana was very gracious to speak to the media and he even made jokes in a good spirits about how he felt Cortez was so mad at him at one point, he thought Cortez was going to hit him.

This joke made the whole media room start cracking up in laughter. As I stated earlier, if you weren't a fan of Maidana, chances are you can't wait to see this guy get back in the ring again after his exciting performance that night.

3. The Manny Pacquiao/Shane Mosley fight is still not official—or is it?

Every member of both Pacquiao's and Mosley's team whom I spoke with would not give me a 100% clear signed seal delivered quote.

I spoke with J Prince, Mosley's adviser. I asked him is the Pacquiao/Mosley fight a go? He said "Yes." I said is it 100%? He said "Ummm."

Then I said how about 80%? He said, "Yes, it is."

I then asked several members from Team Pacquiao, who were also of course members of Team Khan, and they all said they could not comment on it.

Really? Why?

Some even smiled when they said it to me. Hmmmmmmm.

If you guys said it to me off record, of course it stays that way, but I never even got that. I wonder what is truly going on behind the scenes?

2. I was told that Alex Ariza loves working with Amir Khan.

Alex admires Amir's dedication and tremendous work ethic during the camps. Prior to the fight, I asked Alex for his prediction and he said, "Khan will stop him in the seventh round."

As you guys saw, Alex even got into it with one of the members of Maidana's entourage after the fight in the ring.

This maybe an indication of how down Alex really is for Khan?

1. Amir Khan is the man because he does what he says he will do.

Several months ago, he told the media that he will fight Maidana and that Bradley should fight Alexander and the two winners should meet after that.

Guess what? He kept his word.

In a time where so many fighters say one thing yet they never back up their talk, Amir is one fighter who we can actually back up for; hw will do what he says.

He talks the talk and walks the walk.

Khan was very hurt and in need of serious medical attention at the hospital, but he still went out of his way to make a quick statement to the media because this is the type of fighter he is.

We need more fighters like Khan and then our sport will be back on a good track.

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