Sky Sports.com

Special features

Blogs & Opinion

The Panel:

Recent Comments:

Gari Jones on A Brit of alright

"All the Panel have hit on two key issues there, the heavyweight division is boring and thier are no real names that drum up excitement either. This is where David Haye can come in - I ... " View all comments

Stefan Berry on Return of the Manc

"This talk of Ricky becoming the 'pound-for-pound' champion if he beats Manny has to stop as it simply isn't true. You cannot win such an accolade by beating a naturally smaller man, no... " View all comments

Mark Nevin on Keep your distance!

"Nicky Piper makes a good point in that when you get knocked down or get knocked out you automatically have a chin problem. I for one don't see this as David Haye is chinny according to ... " View all comments

Abdur-rahmaan Sheikh on Masterstroke or mad?

"Well I am not too sure guys, I think I would even fancy an ageing Barera at lightweight. Not known for his knockout power, in his prime he did not put down a very chinny Hamed, it went ... " View all comments

Khan, our superstar

The Panel are left purring as Khan claims his first world title

The Panel Posted 19th July 2009 view comments

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.

It was a result the Sky Sports boxing panel, of Jim Watt, Glenn McCrory, Johnny Nelson and Nicky Piper, picked to a man.

Khan: kept Kotelnik at bay all night long

Khan: kept Kotelnik at bay all night long

But even they did not expect it to be so comfortable for Khan. Here is what Glenn, Johnny and Nicky had to say after a sensational night of boxing at the MEN Arena...

GLENN McCRORY: We talked about strategy and he had the perfect strategy. He knew what he had to do, he had to have a very high workrate.

Kotelnik actually boxed a lot better than I thought he would and was a lot more dangerous and a lot busier, but all the time he kept the workrate and what was good to see was the maturity.

He would hold when he needed to and put the handcuffs on Kotelnik and also moved a lot when he had to. He fought when he wanted to and when Kotelnik wanted to fight, he moved.

I think maturity was the key. It was what he needed to do and I think the work with Freddie Roach has been fantastic for him.

He's worked so hard for this. You've got to give him such credit for turning things around. He's been on a fast track all his career and to come up trumps again, you've got to say well done to Amir Khan.

He's still very young, very inexperienced at world-title level and there are some brilliant fights out there for him, just not in the next six months.

He's very young, he's tall and he can even move up another level or two, he carries the weight well.

I think what's important is that he keeps on the floor. He's always been very well grounded and works hard, but there are some big fights out there, maybe in America.

Whether or not he stays at light-welter - the option is always there to come back down to lightweight - the world is his oyster.

I think the potential is there for him to be a boxing superstar. When you see the rapid improvement he's made over the last 10 months, it's fantastic and I think he can go on and on and get even better.

JOHNNY NELSON: I think it's an amazing feat for Amir Khan to mature and stay so disciplined because he knew the prize was so massive.

You could tell towards the end he (Kotelnik) was getting desperate, but he stuck to that gameplan.

I think the step up to light-welterweight, the extra weight has given him some strength.

There's two things we have learned about Amir Khan here: one is now he's put the weight on he can hold a shot and two, he's matured, he's no longer getting reckless and throwing caution to the wind and getting involved when he shouldn't do.

He got tired towards the end, but he would do at the pace he was working at. But he showed maturity.

He will not be able to sleep tonight, he will lay in his bed tonight with his eyes wide open staring up into the dark thinking 'have I really done it?'.

He's not the finished article and so to put him in with these headhunters in the top 10 in the world, you have to be careful.

NICKY PIPER: He won almost every round. He started like a steam train, yet Kotelnik looked good.

He was losing the early rounds, but he still looked strong and we always feared he could lose it with one punch or the stamina could go, but not a bit of it.

He took some good punches and he kept a really good workrate throughout the contest, from the first round to the twelfth.

He was struggling a bit at the end, but the accuracy and combinations, we knew he always had them. But the questions we had were answered at the end.

There was not a high success rate there (19 per cent of punches landed) but when you throw that many punches, that fast, all those combinations... and don't forget Kotelnik's got a brilliant defence.

Comments (42)

  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Kris Goodgroves says...

Khan is moving his way through the fighters like a stage show. Good champions dont side step anyone. He will always be remembered as the one who was put on his backside and hes got a weak chin.. Dont stand a chance with any puncher.

Posted 14:01 1st November 2009

Adam Whiteley says...

hand picked opponant some on here are saying. Well, if all the opponants that are hand picked for khan hold a major belt, and thats jus what the WBA version is, then khan will have a very succesful career. i know for a fact that khan one day will unify this weight class and hold all the major belts, but i suppose until he hold the WBC version above his head, then he cannot be considered a great world champion, but then he is very young, only had 1 title fight, has a world class trainer and excellent mannagment around him, like every fighter, he will be looked after untill the time is right for him to explode, and will one day have undisputed alongside his name

Posted 19:07 30th October 2009

Peter C says...

Khan will never be a true world Champion until he beats Prescott

Posted 13:01 23rd July 2009

Bob Bruce says...

Very carefully hand picked opponents from warren will be all we shall see in the next year or 2!! its a joke that khan even had the opportunity to fight for a world title 2 wins after a crushing defeat!! not an oppertunity 90% of fighters would have got. i feel a lot of people are mistaken as khan haters when in reality they are actually realists who see the bigger picture, the way the media and pundits are falling over themselves over this is gringeworthy!!

Posted 12:55 23rd July 2009

Paul Wickes says...

Amir was incredible. This was the first Khan PPV event I paid for and I was impressed. He boxed like a picture. He made a seasoned champion look like a novice. His composure and adherence to Freddy's gameplan (now THAT'S a class trainer, Ricky) was second to none. The key now is for Khan to do the right thing and fight tough fighters like Marcos Maidana and Tim Bradley, and NOT Erik Morales. That's an appalling match.

Posted 12:09 23rd July 2009

Jay Sheldon says...

Until he fights bredis prescott again and beats him then for me he is a bit of a fake yes he may of beaten a old washed up barrea and may have won a world title but he got steam rollerd by prescott and I dont think he would beat him if they fought again! Id love to see him defend his title against him and see how long he stays on his feet this time

Posted 12:04 23rd July 2009

I Tudders says...

Give Kahn a break, he's a world champion at 22, not many can say that. The guy has ability and it will take a few years before he hits the heights of superstardom, but he'll get there with learning and experience. The Pac man took a while to hit the heights he's currently at. Frank Warren and Freddie will bring Khan through increasingly more difficult fights up to fighting the best. The guy is young, british and talented, why bring an end to a career by taking on the really good guys now and standing a very good chance of being beaten when he has plenty of time to get to that level. A boxers career is like a marathon rather than a sprint.

Posted 10:30 22nd July 2009

Frank Ashby says...

I thought it was a good performance his movement was good, he took a few digs without any real concern, I would like to see how he fares against Tim Bradley, he's got a tight defense but is a bit quicker than Kotelnik and as Witter found out can bang. There is a lot of talk about Hatton, Hatton just doesn't seem to have the hunger any more. I think he has been great for the sport but should hang up his gloves now.

Posted 12:29 21st July 2009

Matthew Porter says...

Learn how to speak Tony, that use of language is beyond disgraceful. Khan has done well to get a belt, but only because he dodged the best lightweights and picked a crap champion, he admitted himself that Kotelnik was the weakest. What does that say? The last time he got in the ring with someone with a bit of power he got his backside handed to him. Like someone said if Hatton has any of his talent left he would KO Amir, Amir punches fast but he is a weak banger and is no Pacman! I think Khan will be found out soon. I mean Roach wants him to fight Morales???? are you kidding me hes overweight, is shot, old and has been in bundles of war. It makes me sick! And Tony it's not about whether Khan could knock us for six, the point is we pay £15 to watch a fight so we are allowed an opinion.

Posted 09:53 21st July 2009

Russell Thomas says...

All the Amir Khan haters are very quiet now!! Great result, and Amir boxed beautifully. Great defence, excellent footwork,speedy jab and very quick hands! Freddie Roach is helping Amir realise his full potential and he will only improve further!!

Posted 06:46 21st July 2009

Gary Evans says...

Well done amir, now please fight sum1 decent so I can see how gud u actually are. Presscotts now a lower weight class and destoryed you, worse than pacquaio did 2 hatton, 54 was it. Il be a believer when he beats sum1 good, Valero, urango, witter, maybe fight prescott again, if you can beat fighter around dat class or maybe even better il be a proper believer. Time is on ur side thou, you do have time.

Posted 20:58 20th July 2009

Kyle Jefferson says...

Come on people give the guy some credit. World title at 22 ? i think it speaks for it'self. However i feel in his day Hatton would walk the fight, but at this age im not so sure. Bring on the fight and end it all

Posted 16:39 20th July 2009

Tony Mirza says...

i think everyone is jelouse of him he is only 22 cut the guy some slack i look up to him and im proud to be brittish and to be his idol he one the belt thats main thing dont matter wut anyone else says if talk to big y dont u try get the belt hed probley nock u for six

Posted 14:23 20th July 2009

Cj Smith says...

I can't believe people seem to think Hatton would beat Khan. In his prime Hatton would have...no question about that.. not now though. Hatton is past it and should retire. The fact that Roach said he would take a khan vs hatton fight in a heartbeat should show to most people that Hatton does not stand a chance. Khan still might be a kid and think like one but his management team of Roach and Warren are among the shrewdest men in the business.

Posted 12:41 20th July 2009

Zubair Khan says...

Well Done Amir, You absolutely outboxed your opponet with great conviction and speed, you did what was ordered by the coach and you deserve to be Champion.... Roll on the happy times.

Posted 12:09 20th July 2009

Rodrigo Millatzanio says...

Khan did what he was trained to do against Kotelnik, Just the way he was trained a different gameplan to fight Barrera, Roach trains you in a way that you work on your opponents weaknesses, and as long as you go with the game plan you will have a good chance of wiining. Khan is not the finished article but he is getting better and better every fight, Prescott is a lucky puncher has no talent to fight a full 12 rounds using a gameplan as he was taught a lesson by vasquez on friday, Khan will beat the best out there very soon.

Posted 12:04 20th July 2009

Shaun Oneill says...

Im sick of people hating on amir. The kids won his first world title aged 22, what more do people want.

Posted 11:55 20th July 2009

Boab Bruce says...

Hatton will most certainly NOT!!! be shaking n his boots!! he will however have to be really fit because he'l be chasing a running khan all night long!! Khan wont be able to fight and not get hit forever, he will be found out, frank warren i believe knows this and this will show in khans next few oponents i guarantee you.

Posted 11:51 20th July 2009

Faisal Rashid says...

I would just like to congratulate Amir Khan on his first World Title. Hopefully the first of many, he boxed beautifully for 12 rounds and made the win look easy as he was never in real trouble apart from the tiredness in the last couple of rounds. Considering the man is only 22 and has improved so much since teaming up with Freddie Roach he is at this moment in time the next big superstar of British boxing. A lot of people still go on about the Prescott defeat but I don't see Amir getting caught like that based on his performance on Saturday. If he fought like that against Prescott and outboxed him like he did with Kotelnik he would've won. Also when Freddie Roach thinks that Khan can become the best you can't really argue the man is a boxing genius. Therefore if Amir keeps learning and improving at the rate he is sky is the limit for him.

Posted 11:43 20th July 2009

Danny Chohan says...

Is it me or are there lots of blind people on here who think ricky "walk into punches" hatton will beat a fitter younger more accurate Amir Khan? its a shame but i think its a case of bring back out the great white hope as in the boxing rings in alabama circa 1910!!!

Posted 11:29 20th July 2009

  • Page 1 of 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private

back to top

Other Boxing Experts:

Latest Posts in Boxing:

Adam Smith

The next big thing

Adam Smith spends time with Amir Khan, a man destined to follow in Manny Pacquiao's impressive footsteps......

Jim Watt

Right time for Rendall

Jim Watt says everything is in place for Rendall Munroe to keep the buzz about British boxing going....

0 comments

Adam Smith

Coming to America

Adam Smith is back with the gym rats, ex-addicts and of course, world champ Amir Khan at the Wild Card....

0 comments

Latest News RSS feeds

Binman sweeps Italian aside

Leicester binman Rendall Munroe retained his European super-bantamweight title with a gruelling points victory over Simone Maludrottu.

Pac Man tops TV figures

Manny Pacquiao's victory over Miguel Cotto was the biggest show of the year, eclipsing Floyd Mayweather's comeback victory.

Arum - Floyd running scared

Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum claims Floyd Mayweather Jr is scared the Filipino would ruin his unbeaten record.

'I'll ruin Rendall's dream'

Simone Maludrottu says he will ruin Rendall Munroe's world-title dream when they meet live on Friday Fight Night.

Simpson wary of Bell threat

John Simpson admits he faces one of the toughest fights of his career when he takes on Stephen Bell next month.

Features

Floyd on the menu

Floyd on the menu

Adam Smith catches up with Floyd Mayweather and thinks he is itching to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Good week, bad week

Good week, bad week

While Pac Man may have won big in Vegas, others in the world of sport didn't fair so well at the weekend.

The talk of Sky Sports

The talk of Sky Sports

Read what Sky Sports' experts and bloggers have been talking about over the last seven days in sport...