Khan stuns Salita in 76 secs

Bolton boy way too quick for mandatory challenger

By Tim Hobbs   Last updated: 6th December 2009  

Khan stuns Salita in 76 secs

Khan: too quick for Salita

SEE KHAN STUN SALITA!
Amir Khan v Dmitriy Salita
WBA light-welterweight title
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9am, 1pm, 7pm, Sunday, December 6
Channel 743 & 752
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Amir Khan told us not to blink for fear of missing something.

We didn't realise he meant both an entire world-title defence and Dmitriy Salita's one chance of boxing glory.

Both came and went with breath-taking speed in Newcastle as Khan blitzed his mandatory challenger in just 76 seconds, courtesy of a handful of viciously meaningful blows.

The WBA light-welterweight champion had his man down with just his THIRD punch of the night, needed two more to put him down again and another to end the contest in sensational fashion.

It means Khan, who lasted just 54 seconds against Breidis Prescott, little over a year ago has now gone full circle since switching to Freddie Roach.

Even the trainer himself, so adept at calling fights, could not have envisaged what unfolded on a night when one man served devasting notice of his class, while another was simply way out of his.

Crumble

It will raise questions about the validity of the match-up, but Salita had worked his way into the WBA's number one position and therefore was there by rights. This was no hand-picked patsy here to pad a record.

That said, no-one inside the sell-out Metro Arena expected him to crumble so quickly.

Khan was straight out at the bell digging a long jab into the ribs and then as the pair came together again, a corkscrew left round the side and a right over the top a split-second later sent Salita tumbling.

He got up, as stunned as everyone, only for the same lethal, lightning combination to leave him on the bottom rope in the corner, another left uppercut almost putting him back on his feet before the referee stepped in for a second count.

But it was not to be a case of third time lucky as this time just a simple left hook took his teetering legs away on the ropes and ended Khan's first defence with just 76 seconds gone.

The champion had warned people not to blink, but few could have expected it to end so abruptly.

Warning

Whether or not it will have the desired effect across the Atlantic remains to be seen, although the Americans love their own and Salita arrived in the north east undefeated in 31 contests.

If it was possible to glean anything in such a short space of time, it was that Khan now carries the fully-fledged power of a light-welterweight and has got even quicker after his fourth training camp with Roach. There will be few, save those looking for a lightning-fast buck, calling him out now.

And fewer people will question his chin, so cruelly exposed in similar fashion by Prescott, himself defeated in the chief support. After all, you can't hit what you can't see and for little over a minute, Khan was speed personified.

He might even have been too quick for his own good, too superior to send out a warning to the boxing world who, if is scans through his short but spectacular career, will realise it was only the fourth fastest finish in his 23 professional fights.

The Amir Khan story continues at pace. A pace that was way too much for poor Dmitriy Salita.

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Comments (58)

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Nav Singh says...

this is really annoying now. if u look at the barrera and kotelnik fights u can clearly see that khan can defnd well. As for him fighting a big puncher, it wouldn't matter cos khan is too fast and accurate for anyone to mount a decent offence against him. everyone is saying about manny, flloyd and mosley, even cotto. He cant fight these guys without leaving he light welterwieght division and to do that would be stupid. I would like him to fight bradley and i think khan will whoop on him. It'll be difficult but with khans speed and power, he can keep bradley off balance and not let him settle. khan is gonna do big things in the sport

Posted 08:17 24th December 2009

Paul Salmon says...

well done Amir,good result against a man unbeaton in 31 fights but whos he fought????iam afraid he wont get much respect in the US till he fights a proper top rated apponent,he can only avoid the big punchers for a while then what happens when he has to fight someone who can really punch??

Posted 12:08 6th December 2009

David Eccles says...

Khan hasn't yet fought anyone who is proven. They promoted Salita as an undefeated sub-human, but in fact he just hadn't fought anyone 'good' yet. Khan will come un-stuck when he fights Pacman / Mayweather / Hatton / My grandad, because they are proven fighters. We've all seen him get knocked down before - what happens when he fights someone who can actually punch him back?? I will tell you... Khan KO!

Posted 12:01 6th December 2009

Chris Cotterell says...

You only have to look at the december 2009 ibo rankings to see the truth in this fight for khan. In the Light Welterweight division Khan was ranked 9th and Salita was ranked 46th, seriously... its like Man City vs Charlton in football terms, theres no way you can predict khan is going onto great things from beating a bum. Khan has got a great trainer and i'm sure it will help him achieve good things, but he wouldn't stand a chance against the greats in this division or the welterweight division, Manny, Floyd, Cotto, Mosley would all destroy Khan. I would like to see Khan fight Bradley next, but lets face it.. Frank Warren knows how to dodge good fighters and keep Khans hype for as long as he can to ensure he makes a tidy profit!

Posted 11:49 6th December 2009

Dave Whippman says...

All credit to Khan, but it's still hard to tell how good he actually is. Maybe Salita was only hyped up as a genuine challenger. One thing is definite. This talk of a Hatton comeback is ill-advised. With respect, he is past his best, and the beating he got from Paquiao (hope I spelled it right!) was a warning sign that it's time to quit.

Posted 11:42 6th December 2009

Joey X says...

Can't fault Khan for what he did. But have to feel that once a big puncher catches him. He will end up out for the count. His chin has been shown that it can't take a punch. May be able to go forward but can't defend.

Posted 11:40 6th December 2009

John Davies says...

Amir Khan proved he is the real deal, the guy werent no joke. If you follow boxing you'd know that, guys your comparing him with the greats, dont forget he's still learning his trade and skills the kids 22. No doubt about it he's gonna leave a legacy in the game.

Posted 11:30 6th December 2009

Mike Russell says...

To quick to strong. Take a bow Amir. Salita who ?

Posted 11:26 6th December 2009

Roy Ratcliffe says...

Lets face it the job for khans team is to get him to the top as safely as possible so your not going to put your fighter in the ring with the likes of pacman or mayweather just yet are you , this is the way of modernday boxing, a lot of people are set to make alot of money from khan so thay have to be very smart, thay have only got one shot at this .l

Posted 11:23 6th December 2009

Matt D says...

Can everyone please STOP raving about amir khan! he is the most overated fighter in the world!!! he has been hand picked poor opponents, and when he's come up against any1 good he's been beaten (Prescott). Its a joke he got a world title fight before Murray and Mitchell, who are much better fighters, and if you disagree you clerly dont watch boxing. He's a world champion but dodges any good fighters, comparte this to david haye who calls out every1. He hasnt been calling out prescott, mitchell or murray has he? no coz he knows he'll get beat. and finally, STOP calling out fighters when there washed up, and/or have just been beat, he wasnt calling out hatton b4 the paquaio fight, only after when he'd been beat. He'll probably start calling out prescott know he' sbeen beat, wot a joke. Dnt fight morales, marquez or hatton, fight sum1 in their prime! please stop bigging up this guy as he is not as good as he's made out to be

Posted 11:10 6th December 2009

Glenn Davies says...

Why do people have to get on our fighters backs all the time? Khan fought the 'mandatory' challenger for the title he holds - now this guys was not great as we all saw, but he was there by merit. Had he not fought Salita within a certain time frame he would have had to relinquish his world title. Khan showed that he possessed the power and pace that was far superior to his opponents last night. There is still much to learn for Khan, and all the people touting his next fight against the elite of boxing don't be so stupid. Khan is only 22 and has plenty of time to get to the very top. As a representative for Britain I hope he does make it........come of Khan!

Posted 11:03 6th December 2009

Manny Pacquiao says...

See the difference when you've got the worlds best trainer in your corner and sparring with the best pound per pound king MANNY PACQUIAO! but this kid needs more fights! he ain't the best till he beat the best!

Posted 10:55 6th December 2009

Rich Butler says...

I'd like to see him against Prescott again, to see a boxer who dealt with the main attraction in a minute, fight before him, was odd. Mitchell would out box Khan, like he did Prescott. And i still think that Prescott's power would put Khan on the canvas, again.

Posted 10:37 6th December 2009

Paul Jones says...

King Khan?????????? This leaves a lot to be desired if you ask me, Salita was unbeaten granted, but his record shows no one in the same calibre of Cotto, Mosley, JMM, Antonio M, Pauli Malignaggia. They will be the real test for Khan, and i think he will struggle and fail with most of them. Dont even think of callin Mayweather out, for yourself or Pacman. He willl take you both out to school. A rematch with Prescott should be first thought, only then can people big Khan up and say he has turned full circle and learned from it. In all honesty, can you see Roach or Khan askin for rematch??? No way, they want him to look good everytime and make it look like he really is somethin. To do this he must avenge Prescott defeat, only then will people start to take notice. Then maybe he can go after BIG fighters will calibre, and i think he will still get beat then.!

Posted 10:36 6th December 2009

Bob Bruce says...

Are people really serious when they say things like bring on mayweather etc. Lets get real, i really want Khan to do well as he is a genuinely nice guy!! but please, less we forget that he does not have a chin!! and no amount of training or know from the brilliant Freddie Roach, can or will be able to change that. I as a boxing enthuiast want to see Khan tested by a recognised puncher before i even begin to take notice of the hype.

Posted 10:25 6th December 2009

Wado Ullah says...

Well done king khan congrats.Hope to see you when you come to scotland.Best of British,best pound for pound boxer britain has!!.Proud to be your fan, float like a butterfly sting like a bee.Yes king khan your our muhammed ali!!.May you prosper Ameen.

Posted 10:25 6th December 2009

Mick Earnshaw says...

If Amir went up against Moneywether or Pacman, I'm sure he would spend a couple of days recovering from the beating just like Salita's will.He's not in the same class.

Posted 10:10 6th December 2009

Stephen Shinnie says...

never saw the fight but still a fantastic win. Can't believe there some people putting him up against mayweather and pacquio next. Khan is really talented but there is a lot of hype that builds him up for falls like against prescott. To become a brilliant boxer takes time. Prince naseem was also very talented and look what happened to him. Just hope that amir doesen't let this all go to his head and be patient about becoming the best boxer he can be with testing fights.

Posted 09:52 6th December 2009

Damien Dingivan says...

Kahn was good ,but will find it hard if he goes to america he needs 1or 2 more fights agents bigger names

Posted 09:51 6th December 2009

Jamie Ward says...

Jim Mercer. I would like to say that the USA is so naive when it comes to British boxers. Like they were when Joe Calzaghe beat Roy Jones Jr., Jeff Lacy and Bernard Hopkins. He was an awesome fighter. The US has hardly any world title holders!

Posted 09:48 6th December 2009
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