King Khan is a real bore

The Sun Online Gavin Glicksman31st July, 2009

CARL FROCH has warned Amir Khan not to let his WBA title success go to his head.

Khan has been linked with a money-spinning Battle of Britain clash with Ricky Hatton after claiming Andreas Kotelnik's light-welterweight crown.

But Froch insists the victory does not paper over the cracks in the 22-year-old's armour.

And the WBC super-middleweight champion admits he will never be in a rush to watch Khan in action.

The Cobra said: "I didn't see the Kotelnik fight and from what I've heard I'm not going to be in a hurry to see a replay.

"It was a safety-first approach and he fights that way because he's very suspect around the chin.

"If he gets hit hard, he gets knocked out. That's something that will never change as you can't put muscles around the chin.

"He's adapted his style now and has done it well. He throws fast punches at range, keeps out of the way and tucks up into his shell if anything comes back at him.

"Fair play to him, he's the WBA champion, but it's a poor division.

"Beating Kotelnik was no great feat and it doesn't make me want to go and watch him."

Khan's career was left in tatters when Breidis Prescott KO'd him inside a minute last September.

The Bolton ace bounced back with wins against Oisin Fagan and fight legend Marco Antonio Barrera before stepping up to light-welter to face Kotelnik.

His rehabilitation was expertly guided by Freddie Roach and Froch is quick to highlight the legendary trainer's role in tightening up his fighter's defence.

But the Nottingham ace does not believe Khan will ever be a true great - unless promoter Frank Warren stops wrapping him in cotton wool.

Froch added: "If he can keep his chin out of the way, Khan might reign for a few years.

"But why doesn't he go and get the rematch with Prescott? That's the fight everyone wants to see.

"Warren protects all his fighters and Khan's definitely being protected too much.

"The problem is people aren't going to want to keep watching him fight against boring opposition.

"They want to see boxers in real fights and he's certainly not going be a Fight of the Year contender after beating Kotelnik.

"But Warren does what he does business-wise, he tries to maximise everything.

"He's going to do a job with Khan but it's going to be a very, very safe job because of the question marks around his chin.

"People don't get excited about the kind of fights like Khan-Kotelnik, they really don't.

"The safety-first option is boring - but that's just my opinion."

Click HERE to watch the interview with Carl Froch

Carl Froch was speaking at the launch of EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4, out now on Xbox360 and PS3, which incorporates the most realistic 'in the ring' experience to date. For further information, visit http://fightnight.easports.com.