A Boxing Memory: Amir Khan vs. Breidis Prescott

A Boxing Memory: Amir Khan vs. Breidis Prescott

It was a fight that brought back memories of the night Errol Christie got flattened inside a round by an unheralded import. The Belgium light-heavyweight Jose Seys knocked out the highly-touted Christie in 1984. Seys didn’t build off the win and struggled to win any fight thereafter. It took ten more fights before the Belgium recorded another victory. Many years later, an unknown Colombian came to Manchester and caused an even bigger shock. But he, too, couldn’t capitalise on his upset victory.

Breidis Prescott had the look of a potential dangerman when he headed to that rainy city in 2008. Despite the win and the manner of it, Prescott had a career that in many ways mirrored that of Jose Seys.

After drawing in eight million viewers on ITV,
it was supposed to be the big Sky PPV launch for the Olympic star Amir Khan. But it would go disastrously wrong in just 54 seconds.

The questions that were being asked post-fight really should have been asked long before Prescott had annihilated the supposed next big thing in British boxing. Khan was unbeaten, but the likes of
Michael Gomez, Willie Limond, and Rachid Drilzane had all put Khan on the canvas. The defensive frailties and the worries over the strength of his chin were no secret to prospective Khan opponents. Prescott came over to England with nineteen wins, all but two of those wins had been inside the distance. The Colombian was also naturally the bigger man, campaigning predominantly in the light-welterweight division. The danger signs were there for all to see.

Khan was 21, with seemingly the boxing world at his feet. The Olympic silver medallist and reigning Commonwealth lightweight champion hadn’t lost in eighteen previous fights, but his perceived defensive woes resulted in a change of trainer for the Prescott fight. Oliver Harrison was out, the former Cuban Olympic coach Jorge Rubio was in.

The fight was an unmitigated disaster disaster for Khan. He was wobbled in the opening seconds by a left jab, and far more seriously by a left hook a few seconds later, and when a more powerful left hand dropped Khan heavily, the fight looked over. He somehow unsteadily got back to his feet, but he looked lost and out on his feet, and more than arguably, the fight should have been stopped right there and then. The punch that finally ended the fight didn’t need to have landed. Or taken.

The career of Khan looked over, but he went to America to train at Wild Card Gym under Freddie Roach and ended up winning multiple world titles.

Prescott looked a world beater the night he beat Khan, but it didn’t quite happen for him.
His resume is littered and defined by the many defeats on the road. Breidis Prescott and Jose Seys share many things in common.