Khan Downs Collazo In Rugged Rumble

Amir Khan took on Luis Collazo in a 147 pound scrap in the main support bout before Mayweather-Maidana at the MGM on Saturday, and it is clear that Khan brough his hand speed, and power, and maybe a smarter boxing style with him.

He moved the whole night, and didn’t get into a tradefest often with the crafty Brooklyner, who went down three times, and complained bitterly time and again about Khans’ octopus arms. The judges spoke, and awarded it to Khan, via scores of 117-106, 119-104, 119-104.

Collazo was felled in the fourth and twice in the tenth, and was frustrated in the later rounds as it was clear Khan would grab and hold in tight, where he needed to be to land a sneaky power shot. Khan’s movement was noticeable in this bout, as he used his feet, and his brain, to good effect. He probably used his arms to grapple a bit much, as well, though. The iffy chin chatter will die down some, I think.

To Jim Gray, Khan said he was tactically smart. Collazo is very awkward, he said. He liked having a lengthy layoff, and then said he thinks this win will help him get a Floyd fight.

In the first, Lu was busy, but Khan’s hand speed edge was obvious. The Brit landed a couple decent rights, in a tight round.

In the second, a combo landed on Lu, with a right hand stinging. A left hand stung Lu, sent him back, and then he went righty, for a change of pace. Lu landed a right hand to the body that told Khan he wasn’t folding.

In the third, the hand speed was in Khan’s favor. He had Collazo following, and his movement was smart, and consistent.

In the fourth, Collazo went down, off a counter, as he waded in. A right hand counter on the chin dropped him. Lu’s aggression won the rest of the round, though. The fight was getting chippier, too.In the fifth, Lu kept on stalking the Brit, who was using his legs to great effect.

In the sixth, Collazo did his grind you down thing. He wanted Khan gasping for air in those deep waters late. In the seventh, he used a crossed guard for the second straight round some. He was ducking and slipping better the last few rounds, to avoid the counter right. Khan kept holding when he needed too, irking Lu. A cut on the right eye formed on the Brit, and they barked and locked eyes as the round ended.

In the eighth, Vic Drak took a point from Lu for going low, second straight round. Vic took a point from Amir for holding. This not long after Khan got buzzed, off a one-two. Was the game changing?

In the ninth, Amir had a better round, because he took it to Lu, didn’t let the Brooklyner dictate pace.

In the 10th, a left put Lu down. He went down again, while complaining about being held behind the neck. The first knock came off a left, the second off a left after a right. Lefts to the body hurt Lu some, as well.

In the 11th, Lu hated the holding, once again.

In the 12th, Lu went low and down went Khan. He went low as Lu had him in a headlock, one of a multitude. Drak gave the Brit a break. Lu looked for a home run but couldn’t find it. To the cards we went.

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