Primetime guest commentator Amir ‘King’ Khan has shared his thoughts on tonight’s highly anticipated super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, broadcasting live from Las Vegas on Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky).
The reigning WBA and IBF light-welterweight world champion has tipped his stablemate to win in impressive style believing that the Mexican great Marquez will not be able to sustain the onslaught that the Filipino will throw his way.
“Marquez looks too big, he looks very heavy upper body and that’s going to work against him because he’s more of a counter fighter and a guy who’s quick and catches you in between shots. But for this fight Marquez has been training to put pressure on Manny and push him back but that’ll work against him because he’s not used to that style and he’s way too big for his size,” said Khan.
“I believe within five rounds Manny will win this fight – he will definitely do a job on him. It could be one of those battles where one punch could change a fight but I just don’t think Marquez has it in him,” Khan stated.
The Bolton born boxer not only backs ‘Pacman’ to win the fight but believes he will do so by knockout.
“Since their last two fights I think Marquez has aged a lot more than Manny, he was outboxed by Mayweather, and Manny will probably be the guy to knock him out – I think this could be one of his last paydays. I’ve been watching Manny in training and he is looking really good so I don’t think he has anything to worry about,” he said.
A potential fight with Floyd Mayweather has been mooted should Pacquiao get past Marquez and Khan has revealed that a fight between the two is likely to happen before he gets the chance to step into the ring with the man dubbed ‘Money’.
“The fight between me and Mayweather won’t happen until the end of next year, maybe even later than that, so it’s no rush for me. I’m only 24 and will be 25 by then but Manny against Mayweather is a fight that everybody wants to see, so it’s one that has to happen,” said the Olympic silver medallist.
Khan will also be running the rule over his nemesis in the 140 pound division, Timothy Bradley, who takes on the experienced Joel Casamayor, a fighter who is no stranger to big-time bouts.
One fight that Khan was keen to make earlier in the year, in order to try and capture all four recognised world-titles, was against the American Bradley but the British star will instead be watching closely from ringside when the current WBO light-welterweight world champion steps into the squared circle on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez III.
“It’s a fight Bradley should win [against Casamayor],” said Khan. “We offered him the fight twice and he refused both times so he will be a little bit embarrassed by that. I don’t know the exact reasons behind it so I’m sure if I do see him we will probably have a chat because I remember before I fought Maidana he said to me ‘you win that fight and it’ll be a good fight between both of us’ and I thought the fight was going to happen,” he revealed.
“I want to move up to 147 pounds but don’t think he will take the fight on now because it’s too much for him to risk – he’s looking for a big payday fight against Mayweather or Pacquiao. The world knows I wanted that fight and offered it to him on paper and he stayed quiet when it was put to him,” said Khan.
This Saturday nights clash will be screened live and exclusive in the UK on Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky) from 2am. All four 24/7 shows will be free-to-air from 11pm on Saturday 12 Nov. Having shown some of boxing’s biggest names including Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan and Carl Froch, Primetime are set to get boxing fans mouths watering again with a potential ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate.
