Sunday 4 May 2014 15:53, UK
Amir Khan marked his return to the ring with a convincing points win over Luis Collazo at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Khan, who was fighting for the first time in over a year, knocked down his experienced and durable opponent three times en route to a comfortable unanimous decision.
Two judges scored the bout 119-104 while the third had it 117-106 to reflect the dominance of the British fighter, who is trying to line himself up for a shot at pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.
Former world champion Khan was fighting at the full welterweight limit for the first time and clinched the WBC Silver and WBA International titles with the win.
"Styles make fights and I really believe I have the style to trouble Floyd Mayweather," Khan told Showtime in his post-fight interview.
Styles make fights and I really believe I have the style to trouble Floyd Mayweather.
"Collazo has been beaten but it was always a really close fight (against Shane) Mosley and (Andre) Berto."
He added: "One thing about me training with Virgil Hunter. He taught me some things and I put them together tonight.”
Khan improved his record to 29-3 and, after a shaky win over Julio Diaz and losses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, put in his most accomplished performance for three years.
The 27-year-old used his significant reach advantage to keep Collazo at bay early on and momentarily stunned the New Yorker with a straight right in the second round.
Collazo attempted to cut off the ring but was caught out off-balance in the fourth and crashed to the canvas after shipping another right.
A cut appeared above Collazo's eye at the start of the seventh and the veteran welterweight, who came close to beating Ricky Hatton in 2006, was deducted a point in the eighth for a low punch.
But it was in that same round when Khan showed some of his old vulnerabilities after being hurt by Collazo and then penalised a point for holding.
Khan found a superb reponse and knocked Collazo down twice in the 10th, first from a succession of body punches and then from a crisp one-two.
Collazo barely survived the round but did manage to see things through to the final bell after sending Khan to the canvas with a low blow.
Two more British fighters claimed victories on the card as Anthony Ogogo stopped Jonel Tapia in the third round and Ashley Theophane also won via stoppage, disposing of Angino Perez in four rounds.
