IT started with a simple tweet. “Delighted to announce I will be fighting Canelo May 7th Cinco De Mayo, Las Vegas for the 155lbs WBC title,” Amir Khan wrote yesterday afternoon. (That’s the WBC middleweight title, they don’t as yet have a 155lbs crown.) It seemed hard to believe but sure enough Saul Alvarez confirmed it, tweeting: “Canelo vs Khan on May 7th, 2016.”
Gennady Golovkin, waiting in the wings for Alvarez, gave his take: “Canelo vs Amir Khan should be a battle. 2016 will be a great year for boxing! #CanelovsKhan #WhoIsNext #AllTheBelts.”
For many it was a shock. IBF super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton tweeted: “Canelo vs Khan!!! Never seen that one coming. Wowzers.”
Others don’t fancy Khan’s chances. Promoter Lou Dibella tweeted: “Whatever the outcome (and I think I know it), Amir Khan is a man’s man.”
Journalist Steve Kim wrote: “Early opinion on Canelo-Khan: interesting style match-up, physical mismatch…”
But many hailed the decision. BoxNation’s Steve Bunce tweeted: “Let’s all bend our necks slightly and salute Amir Khan. That is a fight, that is how you shut people up. Congrats to Amir and his people.” Sky’s Adam Smith wrote: “The boxing world never ceases to amaze. Canelo-Khan – just fabulous…” ESPN’s Dan Rafael opined: “To all those who stupidly said Amir Khan was “ducking” Brook, you’ve been pretty quiet today.”
World title challenger Paul Smith said, “Amir Khan will still get slated. Stepping up to middleweight to face Canelo. The lad has balls. Every credit to him.”
While Sky reporter Ed Robinson cautioned, “I really hope for Amir that there are major financial penalties laid out in the contract if Canelo comes in over 155lb at the weigh-in.”
Promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland came out with a left field prediction: “Remember not so long ago Mayweather v Canelo? For me Khan is just as quick. Amir on points for me. Intriguing fight though.”
But perhaps boxer Lee Markham summed it up best of all: “Khan fighting Canelo instead of Anthony Joshua. What a s***house.”
