Roach: I Thought About Stopping Amir Khan's Fight

[Gamer]

c/p By Mark Vester

According to trainer Freddie Roach, he considered stopping the fight after watching Amir Khan take a lot of punishment from Marcos Maidana in the tenth round of their fight. The bout took place on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Roach spoke to Khan between rounds and felt he was stable enough to continue for the remainder of the fight. Khan went on to retain his WBA junior welterweight title with a close twelve round unanimous decision.

"Throw in the towel?" Roach said. "It did cross my mind, but I spoke to him between the tenth and eleventh rounds and he responded well. His head was clear and he knew where he was at."

Besides his own thoughts, Roach felt the referee, Joe Cortez, was very close to stopping the fight when Maidana was pouring on the power punches in the tenth round.

"It was very close to being stopped by the referee in the tenth when Amir took a lot of shots. But I was very happy we had a good referee in there in Joe Cortez. He didn't get too excited and let the fight go on," Roach said.

[The Cobra]

Responded well?? Obviously Roach went out for a dog and a beer for the 11th and 12 rnds cause Khan got the crap knocked out of him in those rnds too. I`m not buying that "I came close to stopping" crap

[Fibroso]

Besides his own thoughts, Roach felt the referee, Joe Cortez, was very close to stopping the fight when Maidana was pouring on the power punches in the tenth round.

"It was very close to being stopped by the referee in the tenth when Amir took a lot of shots. But I was very happy we had a good referee in there in Joe Cortez. He didn't get too excited and let the fight go on," Roach said.

Fibroso

It's a shame that Maidana had to fight Khan and ref. Joe Cortez who kept him from fighting inside. He didn't look "Fair and Firm" in this one. It seems that Roach put some money under the table for this one.JMO

This proofs my theory of a deal taken place between Roach and Joe cortez. Not letting Maidiana do his in fighting and keeping him away from Khan. Read..... http://www.satfix.net/showthread.php?t=44179

[jriver309]

In my opinion better thought should be given to picking refs when you know the fighters style of fighting. Joe Cortez has been at this for a long time but I agree he did not do a good job, also Maidana did not do himself any good by seemingly taking rounds off. But heck he did have Khan out of there. This has rematch written all over it.

[n3uspeed2]

Responded well?? Obviously Roach went out for a dog and a beer for the 11th and 12 rnds cause Khan got the crap knocked out of him in those rnds too. I`m not buying that "I came close to stopping" crap

Khan couldn't cover his chin by all of those upper cut's. It's not like Maidana was fast or anything. He's not even fast. Maidana wasn't even 100 % you could he was running 50 percent but still hitting him hard. I liek that Comment that made me laugh in the end....Khan said he wanted to show he could take on a hard hitter. He's hasn't seen a hard hitter yet....if it was May weather he would of already knocked Kahn out....especially leaving himself wide open like that. I don't see Khan holding on to this title very long. His fighting style didn't seem to penetrate.... he just throw a few jabs then run.... I think he's over rated that's my opinion. He may be the champ right now.... but he doesn't play that role very well.

[The Cobra]

Khan couldn't cover his chin by all of those upper cut's. It's not like Maidana was fast or anything. He's not even fast. Maidana wasn't even 100 % you could he was running 50 percent but still hitting him hard. I liek that Comment that made me laugh in the end....Khan said he wanted to show he could take on a hard hitter. He's hasn't seen a hard hitter yet....if it was May weather he would of already knocked Kahn out....especially leaving himself wide open like that. I don't see Khan holding on to this title very long. His fighting style didn't seem to penetrate.... he just throw a few jabs then run.... I think he's over rated that's my opinion. He may be the champ right now.... but he doesn't play that role very well.

Nicely put speed----I couldn`t agree more.