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Haye: Salita is no pushover
Heavyweight champion expecting close encounter
By Ally Fisher Last updated: 30th November 2009
Salita: Solid
Amir Khan v Dmitriy Salita
WBA Light-Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office & in HD
8.00pm, Saturday, December 5
Channel 743 & 752
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WBA heavyweight champion David Haye believes Dmitriy Salita will prove to be a tough competitor for Amir Khan's first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title.
Haye, who beat Nikolai Valuev at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany last month, will be ringside for Khan's defence in Newcastle.
And Haye is expecting the unbeaten American, who has 16 KOs from his 30 victories, to ask one or two questions of Khan's world-class ambitions.
Solid
Haye said: "Salita is a solid fighter and is very good. I know a few people who have seen him in the past saying he could he trouble."
Nevertheless Haye expects Khan to retain the belt he won by beating Andriy Kotelnik on points back in July.
"Khan is in tremendous shape already," he said.
"I will be there as I really want to see him defend his title."
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Comments (13)
J W says...
I think boxing is getting more ridiculous as the years go by... I remember the good old days when fighters used to call each other out - the epic battles... The 1980's era of Hagler, Sugar Ray, Duran, Hearns - the 1990's with Benn, Eubank, Collins and most recently Calzaghi. That quality of fighter died years ago. Khan is the new breed of boxer - a cash cow. He won the title when he really didn't really deserve a shot at it. Breddis Prescott beat him up within a minute. He fights an old skeleton of Barrerra and then gets a title shot!? Truth is Khan can only fight who his promotor puts in front of him - but he can choose his promotor. Frank Warren is smart, he offers his fighters good money, a title shot but he doesn't want them to take risky fights - he wants to protect their worth. In my opinion, Khan should fight Prescott to silence his critics then look to fight the likes of Mayweather and Pac Man to be known as a champion. At the moment he is just Amir Khan in the boxing world. I like the fast turn over of the 'big' fights in Mixed Martial Arts. Something seems more genuine about this new sport. Boxing needs more fighters and less business men to retain the love many people have for the sport. Bring on Mayweather v Pac Man!!!
Posted 23:11 2nd December 2009
Darren Barty says...
In reply to Ian roberts Khan is taking on the mandetory challenger so he can only beat what is put in front of him. Lets get behind Amir he is british after all.
Posted 12:00 2nd December 2009
George Ritchie says...
Khan should do just fine, Roach has seen Salita fight and wasn't overly impressed, and generally when Freddie Roach calls a kncokout he doesn't get it wrong,and Ian Roberts, i wouldn't really say that a mandatory challenger, who he has to fight or be stripped of his belt, was hand picked, just a thought.
Posted 11:24 2nd December 2009
D Patel says...
Salita is ranked at #39 in the world! Khan should be fighting better fighters than this guy! All the fighters are handpicked for him it's ridicioulous!
Posted 08:30 2nd December 2009
Rob O'driscoll says...
how can a fight thats pay-per-view have a fighter at 9/2,
Posted 19:14 1st December 2009
Robert Allen says...
Handpicked opponent? Are you for real? This guy is the mandatory opponent. Look up what that means. First defence, like for like, he is a stronger opponent than Calzaghe, de La Hoya, or Nas ever fought. 4 rounds does seem likely though.... and still, light welterweight champion of the world.... Amir Khan!!!!!!!!! come on amir, shut the mouths of all these haters who havent got a clue!!!!!!!!
Posted 15:29 1st December 2009
Saj Khan says...
ian roberts i dont think you know what mandatory means cos thats what salita is. he is not hand picked he is next in line for a shot at the belt khan either fights him or gives up the belt. thats why hes fighting him
Posted 14:29 1st December 2009
Naeem Mirza says...
ian roberts is a joke how salita be hand picked when he is a mandortory challenger gets ur facts right before commenting foolish man
Posted 13:29 1st December 2009
Rik Pedro says...
He is the mandatory challenger, not hand picked at all. In fact Salita should have been the mandatory challenger to fight Kotelnik before Khan. This is going to be a good fight, and if Khan makes it look easy, it means he's a hell of a fighter because Salita is no fool. Salita is a hungry fighter also, he's had a tough life and he's got the fire in his belly
Posted 12:57 1st December 2009
Ishty Hussain says...
If Khan can dispose Salita then he must go on and take on the likes of Urango, Bradley, Alexander, Marquez, Valero. I know he has said he wont fight Pacquiao cos he knows he will get a thrashing and also cos he is his stable mate. I think he will hand-pick Hatton as his next opponent once he overcomes Salita. If he wants an all British fight then he must face Murray first and then worry about Hatton.
Posted 12:47 1st December 2009
Emmanuel Meneke says...
i ain't got nothing against can just that i think he is so over rated!their is no way on this earth he should be 1/7 fav ,if he was say 4/6 that would be acceptable but not 1/7 man...my money is on salita at 9/2...i really know i should be rooting for a british guy but hell no he doesn't represent value for money at all..
Posted 21:52 30th November 2009
Aamir Shaikh says...
I think amir khan is going to win hopefully and salita isn't going to be any problem for....................................... KING KHAN :D
Posted 18:08 30th November 2009
Ian Roberts says...
Same old story,another hand picked Khan opponent !!! and on pay per view ????? Its a joke!!!! It will be over in 4 rounds!!!!
Posted 16:40 30th November 2009