Classy Khan is world's best
Amir Khan rules the roost at 140lbs
Also In The News
|
Afghanistan is expected to dominate all aspects of Gordon Brown's twice-yearly grilling by some of the most influential MPs in Westminster. |  |
Sunday, 19, Jul 2009 12:10
Amir Khan has won his first-ever world title after outpointing Andreas Kotelnik to claim the WBA light-welterweight belt.
Just 22 with the same number of professional fights to his name, Khan won a unanimous decision 120-108, 118-111, 118-111 after landing 170 punches to the Ukrainian's 80.
On last night's evidence at the MEN Arena in Manchester, it is the first of many titles for the Bolton fighter.
The way in which he outclassed his 31-year-old opponent is all the more remarkable given his shock knockout defeat to Breidis Prescott last September.
Khan, who was watched on from the ringside by Naseem Hamed, one of two British men to have won boxing titles at a younger age, paid tribute to his American trainer Freddie Roach for turning round his fledgling career since that loss.
"It's the best feeling ever," he told BBC Sport. "I want to thank Freddie Roach and my team for making this happen.
"I'm a world champion and I'm going to enjoy it. I'm still young and I've got big things to come."