Paul's Press Ups - Amir Khan

Paul Foley on Amir Khan’s flirting and fighting.

The opening round squares off with a Sunday newspaper's ‘account’ of Amir as a man who has feelings that many men can relate to.

And not surprisingly, when a top boxer makes news pages instead of sports ones it is usually because it’s nothing to do with pugilism.

The News of the World was keen to declare that Amir has been ‘fighting dirty’ with friendly females.

Khan is used to headlining top bills and seeing his face splashed across promotional posters all with a view to attracting the punters who will pay for punching but last Sunday’s ‘main event’ read a little differently from those.

‘Amir begs model for Khan-al knowledge,’ set to put the WBA light-welterweight champion on the back foot from the first bell two weeks before he defends his world title in America against Paulie Malignaggi.

And the paper continued in their attempt to gain a unanimous verdict over his popular public image by throwing heavy body shots to the Bolton hero.

I suggest you look away now if don’t want to see Amir’s  reputation taking further punishment because the article intended on going the distance if column inches are anything to go by.

‘Squeaky clean boxing hero Amir Khan is today exposed as a sex pest who sent lewd snaps and sordid messages to a girl he hardly knew.’

The story continued claiming Khan went below his belt and sent an obscene picture to a model followed by twisted texts which were not taken on the chin too well. (Pardon the pun.)

“He might be a good fighter but he has a filthy mind,” said Leanne Crow who met Khan in Los Angeles while he was training.

The News of the World has now run two recent stories on top British boxers with Khan following Joe Calzaghe as a target for being a little human!

What makes me cringe is these self-righteous reporters who are ‘shocked’ that men who have looks, talent and money won’t sometimes experiment with ladies and drugs. (As if some of those don’t!)

A few texts hardly makes one a sex pest does it.  If it was that much of a scandal why didn’t Leanne call the Police?

When I met Amir recently he stated he was single. Of course attractive women are going to be interested.

Should we be shocked that Amir may too also be?

The more alarming story for me was Amir stating that he will be ‘ready’ for the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in the next 12 months on one condition...

GQ magazine and Piers Morgan came in close with some quick fire testers.

Piers, not one to fight defensively, asked who would win between Manny and Money to which Khan responded ‘Manny.’

Now here is where the fight gets interesting...

‘If things go well you could end up fighting the winner,' asked Piers.

"Yes exactly," replied Amir. "This game's all about timing. You have to know the best time to have these fights in your career. If you look at Oscar De La Hoya he fought all the best fighters when they were on the way downhill, and not at their best. I want to catch these guys when they have come off their peak."

It seems as if Amir isn’t quite right about his Golden Boy boss. Oscar fought an undefeated and prime Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley, not forgetting Floyd Mayweather. That is hardly men on their way down and out is it?

Forums have long been filled with comments saying Amir ducks the top opponents. Now he himself has said I’ll wait until the top shots are shot.

Now I know it was Piers Morgan sitting with him but surely Amir could have been a little more slippery.

But by letting this one slip out I think he has played right into his opponents’ hands, both in and out of the ring.

One final thought... Will Mayweather really be any poorer in  his skills come next year?

On last Saturday’s evidence I can’t see it somehow.

Which means we won’t be seeing Amir get it on with Floyd for a little while at least!