Round-by-round report

See how Khan's date with destiny unfolded

By Tim Hobbs   Last updated: 20th July 2009  

Round-by-round report

Khan: WBA champion

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Amir Khan has been crowned world champion at the age of 22.

The boy from Bolton produced a consummate display to outclass and outpoint Andreas Kotelnik and claim the WBA light-welterweight title.

Khan's crowning moment topped a great night for the future of British boxing on Sky Box Office as young hopes Kell Brook, Anthony Small and the Olympic trio James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, all won impressively.

But all eyes were on the top-of-the-bill tussle in which Khan silenced his critics to become Britain's second world champion alongside Carl Froch.

To see how his date with destiny unfolded, simply scroll down...

ROUND ONE
A great start from Khan. He's out behind a sharp jab early on, dictating the pace and looking right up for this. Kotelnik, as expected, sits behind a tight guard and offers little in response. However, not once but twice Khan stays in range and is tagged. But he soon resumes the attack and with 45 seconds to go is warned for shoving Kotelnik across the ring. Who said light-welter would be a problem?
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND TWO
Another sharp start from Khan and several impressive combinations prove too quick for Kotelnik. A left-right pair to the temple trouble the champion but, stung into action, he shows his first offensive work of the night. A big right hand catches Khan cleanly and he knows he cannot afford to be caught too often. But the speed of his feet and punches alike is still too quick - at the moment - for the WBA boss to cope with.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND THREE: This is sizzling nicely, flying past too! Kotelnik comes out for the third determined to come forward and shows he is no slouch on the combinations - the right landing hard again. But Khan fires back instantly and after taking clean shots to the head and body, he backs Kotelnik up with a furious five-punch combo. A good even round, in a good even contest, but maybe the champion just shaded this.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 9-10 Kotelnik

ROUND FOUR: Definitely more coming from Kotelnik. He's opened up the left hook upstairs as well, but Khan is showing cute defensive work, blocking well, particularly his body. Kotelnik though is walking his man down more, happy to get in close and is generally right in Khan's face. There are still flashes of speed as Khan slips in three-four punch flurries, but mostly they are absorbed by the Ukrainian's defence. The champion takes it.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 9-10 Kotelnik

ROUND FIVE: Best round yet, both in the fight and for Khan. He might be on the back foot, but he is still firing off single shots and combos - but another Kotelnik right draws grasps from the crowd. Khan though, is in the swing of it now, skipping around the ring, stopping only to let his fists go. One seven-punch bunch pings Kotelnik's high guard and the champion shows his first signs of frustration as he lunges and misses on the ropes. Khan looks to be pacing himself nicely.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND SIX: Kotelnik is rattled and opens up with some wild, single shots. One looping left is in more danger of taking out Freddie Roach in the corner as the champion tries to re-establish himself. But it's Khan again on the move, landing a left, then backing his man up across the ring with a left-right-left that has Kotelnik back-pedalling. He does hit back with a right as Khan drops his guard towards the end, but again Khan is back on the offensive, blistering straight punches at his target. He is taking shots and hitting back with more.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND SEVEN: Nice stuff from Khan now. Happy to soak up Kotelnik's shots, happy to sit on the back foot an even happier to counter, he's on top now. He lands a sharp right early on and as the champion visibly tires, more and more of those rod-like jabs are getting through to that nose. Maybe more work is needed downstairs as one right to the ribs causes Kotelink obvious discomfort, but a sweet right uppercut, followed by a pin-point left to the head close an impressive session. He looks comfortable at light-welterweight and even more comfortable mixing it with a world champion.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND EIGHT: This is supposed to be where Kotelnik comes on strong, but as he tries to assert himself, Khan is too quick, too slick on the retreat. He rolls left, then right to avoid two hooks and is off again before peppering the champion's guard again. Maybe a few more shots to the body could help bring Kotelnik's guard down, but Amir is still proving untouchable. He closes the round, bobbing and weaving like a snake being charmed, leaving the champion punching at air. He does land a straight right as Khan leaves himself open coming forward, but it's nothing to worry about.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND NINE: Maybe Kotelnik is coming in to his own... he throws a lot more and lands a lot more in this round, rocking Khan with a right at the end. But it is still Amir's fight and encouragingly he seems able to handle the champion's power. Still his fast fists fly, more to get himself out of trouble and keep Kotelnik at range. and the combos come just as sweetly as they did at the start. He plants his feet and powers a left-right-left-right blast to the ribs, before getting on his bike again. But it is back-foot stuff and a dogged finish - in which he catches the Khan chin - gives the champ a rare success.
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 9-10 Kotelnik

ROUND TEN: The pattern is now set and Khan does what he has done all night. In, out, in out, popping out the jab and more importantly, still looking fresh. Kotelnik looks ragged and does land a decent counter, but it's Khan hammering away at will. The only downside is he's yet to fashion a clear opening, but there is quantity and no shortage of quality to his general work. He is setting the pace, tying his man up when he does come in and proving what we knew all along - that Freddie Roach is a matser of his art. And Khan is not a bad pupil!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

ROUND ELEVEN: Steady Amir! He shows some signs of fatigue, not least in the final minute when he is forced to cover up as Kotelnik bangs in two shots to the body and one to the head. But again, he takes it all and fires back firmly, reminding the judges that you can do work without swinging wildly. We know now that Kotelnik needs a KO, and sensing that as well, Khan steers clear of danger. Still no signs of the bodyshot that would've slowed Kotelnik right down!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 9-10 Kotelnik

ROUND TWELVE: Kotelnik comes flying out with a lead right after the bell but Khan takes it - he does not want to be swaying out of the way too much in the last round. The champ knows he needs one big shot and he opens up, toe-to-toe and for a second, Khan stands and trades with him. Thankfully he gets out of range soon and on the very next exchange a peach of a right uppercut keeps Kotelnik at bay. He ends the fight back-pedalling, but although Kotelnik is first to raise his hands at the bell, surely Britain has a new world champion!
SKYSPORTS.COM SCORE: Khan 10-9 Kotelnik

THE SCORES: Khan has done it. 120-108, 118-111, 118-11... he is champion of the world!

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