Uppercut Magazine.com - UFC or Boxing

By David A. Avila

Crossover fight fans may have trouble deciding what to watch as professional boxing and mixed martial arts go head to head on Saturday.

In Washington D.C. boxing showcases WBA junior welterweight titleholder Amir “King” Khan (26-1, 18 KOs) facing challenger Lamont Peterson (29-1-1, 15 KOs). In Toronto, Canada, Ultimate Fighting Championship features light heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending against Lyoto Machida.

Khan’s fight will be shown on HBO. Jones fight will be on pay-per-view.

Many call Khan, 24, the heir apparent to Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. With his lightning fast hands and nimble movement he’s literally danced circles around the competition so far.

“Khan throws some sick combos. He has stamina. He showed me he’s no one to mess with after that (Marcos) Maidana fight,” said Tattoo, a radio DJ who also covers the fight game for KDAY 93.5. “Maidana is no joke.”

Since losing to Breidis Prescott, the British speedster Khan has been tutored by world famous trainer Freddie Roach and seems near unbeatable. Behind a laser jab and four-punch combinations Khan has blown holes in all of his challenger’s defenses.

Next up is Peterson.

Fans in the Inland area are familiar with Peterson who was undefeated and a favorite to beat Palm Springs boxer Timothy Bradley. That night, on December 12, 2009, Bradley shred the D.C. fighter’s peek-a-boo defense with his speedy combinations. Will Khan do the same?

“The thing is he throws a lot of punches and he throws them in bunches, but his punches seem fast and they are fast, but I'm just as fast. Timing beats speed all day. So, it's nothing to worry about his speed,” says Peterson, 27.

Great Britain’s Khan has defended the world title five times including four current or former world champions. No one has been able to derail the bullet train of Khan that seems heading toward super stardom.

“We took on Maidana; we beat him. We took on Zab Judah, who also was another threat in that division, and we took him out. That's the reason they've put me to number one in the world because they call me the best fighter in that division because I'm one fighter who loves taking the risks and fighting the best out there,” said Khan.

Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions who promote Khan, said that in many ways the British boxer’s early career mimics his own that saw many love him or hate him.

“In boxing the more critics you have, the bigger you are, and that’s the way I saw my career,” De La Hoya said. “Yes, I had more adoring fans who always followed me 100 percent, and you hear the criticisms left and right. But the more you hear the more popularity you’re gaining…it goes with the territory.”

UFC 140

The meteoric rise of Jones (14-1) to light heavyweight champion will be tested severely in Toronto, Canada when he faces former champion Machida (17-2) of Brazil.

There sure are a lot of light heavyweight champions running around. One main reason is the 205-pound division is loaded.

Loaded or not, many see Jones as the next big thing in MMA and he plans do more than just win the title and lose it.

“I have an opportunity to do something good,” said Jones. “It was tough getting here.”

Most times its more difficult staying champion as Machida can attest. Jones beat Maurcio “Shogun” Rua for the title then defended against former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jones looks to make a long run in the light heavyweight division. Last to defend more than twice was Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell who defended it successfully four times from 2005 to 2007 before losing to Jackson.

Also on the same card will be Tito Ortiz (17-9-1) back in the Octagon and fighting Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) in one of the semi-main events. The other is Frank Mira in a rematch with Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira in a heavyweight bout.

Fights on television

Sat. 6 p.m. pay-per-view, Jon Jones (14-1) vs. Lyoto Machida (17-2); Tito Ortiz (17-9-1) vs. Antonio Rogerio Noegueira (19-5); Frank Mir (15-5) vs. Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira (33-6-1).

Sat. 6:45, HBO, Amir Khan (26-1) vs. Lamont Peterson (29-1-1).