On Saturday night, Amir Khan returned to the ring with a unanimous decision win over Samuel Vargas in Birmingham. While Khan secured the victory, his performance left me pondering just as many questions as answers.
A Rocky Comeback
Khan started strong—dropping Vargas in round two—only to expose defensive vulnerabilities when Vargas rocked him just before the bell. Though Khan walked away the clear winner, the Khan we saw two or three years ago would likely have pressed for a stoppage. Instead, he seemed hesitant to push on once Vargas was hurt. In the post-fight interview, Khan said he wanted the full 12 rounds to prove he still had the endurance—but honestly, no fighter wants 12 rounds if they don’t have to. While understandable that Khan wants to scrub the rust off, against someone like Vargas you’d expect a cleaner finish.
What Does This Reveal?
- Ring Rust or Fading Edge? Hard to tell. Yes, Khan hasn’t boxed much recently. But at 31—with hard miles and past wars—do those wear and tear finally show?
- What Weight Is the Sweet Spot? He called Welterweight his natural home, but he’s struggled to hit 147 lbs and didn’t look sharp. Middleweight seems too big. Could Super-Welter be the right fit?
- Is Another Title Defense Realistic? He certainly could fight for a world title. But would he beat someone like Errol Spence Jr or Terence Crawford? Based on Saturday, I’m skeptical.
- Is He Past It? At 31, maybe not, but Khan’s reflexes appeared slower, intent less sharp. He clearly saw shots coming—but didn’t always follow up.
- What’s Next? Kell Brook seems the only opponent making sense. Give fans the long-awaited grudge match. Pacquiao talk? Dreamy—but that ship sailed years ago, and old legs won’t help.
Final Thoughts
Khan still has heart and talent; Saturday showed both. But he has real questions to answer—ringside shape, weight category, and whether he can match elite-level competition. The next few fights, especially against Brook, should reveal if he still has the tools to succeed—or if this comeback was merely nostalgic bravado.
Let me know what you think: what weight, what opponent, and can he still aim high?
Don’t know were to start with all the questions you ask so I think I’ll just wait and see what happens all the best billy.