In another two-part special, Adam Smith tells you everything you need to know about Andreas Kotelnik...
Kotelnik's a tough cookie and a class act, warns Adam
Over the last few weeks, people have asked me to tell them just how tough Amir Khan's biggest assignment is. Although the Bolton protégée's meeting a hardened champion, many fans remain unsure of quite what to expect from the other corner.
Let me try and unravel some of the mystery, because there is a very tough, experienced and unheralded campaigner standing between Amir Khan and his dream of capturing his first world title at 22.
This fighter's not flash, outspoken or cocky, but is hard-working, effective, diligent and very capable.
His name is Andreas Kotelnik; born Andrei, in Lviv, the cultural centre of Western Ukraine - and he's long been based as a professional in and around the hard school of German boxing.
He travels. He's unfazed. He has a tough background, but an excellent all-round education. He was an exceptional amateur. He's a solid, seasoned pro. He has a great chin and has never been stopped.
Andreas Kotelnik has been boxing for some 24-25 years. He proudly stands as the WBA light-welterweight ruler, with a very accomplished record of 34 fights (31-2-1). He won 135 of 150 bouts as an amateur.
Legend
Kotelnik struck gold at the European Juniors in 1995, competed in the World Championships two years later, won gold in the European seniors, and took silver at the 2000 Olympics.
In Sydney he was out-pointed 14-4 by Mario Kindelan, the Cuban legend who won Gold against Amir Khan four years on in Athens. Kotelnik had beaten Kindelan in a multi-nations tournament in Bulgaria. They met four times in total - Kindelan winning three (although Kotelnik claims it was 2-2).
Kotelnik then decided to join his Ukrainian counterparts, the Klitschko brothers, by teaming up with Klaus-Peter Kohl. He turned professional in Germany, where he knocked out Peter Feher in one round in December 2000.
He chose to base his career in Germany, under the guidance of the superb and under-rated trainer Michael Timm - who had won gold in the 1995 European amateur championships at light-middleweight when representing East Germany.
Timm once had nine world champions at the same time; he is as respected and famous in German boxing as Freddie Roach is in America.
Dangerous
It's interesting that while Amir Khan is applauded for his rehabilitation out in the tough Wildcard Gym, Kotelnik made his big life-changing boxing move right at the start of his career.
He won his first 21 fights, before engaging in an eliminator for the WBA title against the decent Frenchman Souleymane M'Baye (who has just beaten Essex's Colin Lynes for the European belt) in Hauts-de-Seine in France in October 2004. Kotelnik lost for the first time, by split decision.
His next major fight was a European light-welterweight title challenge against the in-form and dangerous Junior Witter in Nottingham. The opening paragraph of the 'Boxing News' report read: 'Junior Witter got away with it.' The judges disagreed - scoring 115-114 (twice) and 117-111 in favour of Witter. Witter, incidentally, strongly believes that Kotelnik beats Khan.
Kotelnik rebounded by notching up a good win, when he outpointed 2000 Olympic gold medallist Mohamed Abdulaev.
In March 2007, he met M'Baye again, for a WBA title challenge in Liverpool. This time they drew. Paul Thomas had it 115-113 for M'Baye, Micky Vann scored it 117-112 to Kotelnik and Terry O'Connor had it 114-114.
Schooled
In March 2008, he was back on our shores again, to tackle a pocket battleship from Wales. Gavin Rees had outworked M'Baye to take the WBA title and was on a long, unbeaten run of 27. Kotelnik schooled Rees impressively using his tight defence early, and then threw plenty of body shots in the middle rounds.
Kotelnik was fabulous, and stopped Rees in the 12th and final round to claim his world title, on foreign soil in Cardiff, in his eighth year as a pro.
Kotelnik made the first defence of his crown back home in Lviv, Ukraine, easily outpointing Norio Kimura, and then came the result which - over the last few days - looks extremely good in hindsight.
In Germany, Kotelnik made a successful second defence of the WBA belt against the then unbeaten Argentinean powerhouse Marcos Maidana. It was tough, but Kotelnik picked his shots well and came through by split decision - 115-114, 115-113, 113-115.
Maidana said: "He was a tough fighter because of his defence. It was impossible to penetrate his high guard. I threw bombs for 12 rounds, and I couldn't get to him because of his defence."
Teak-tough
We saw Maidana shine on
Friday Fight Night last week in a classic slug-fest thriller with the highly touted Victor Ortiz. The amiable and hard-hitting Californian was seen as the next 'Golden Boy' of American boxing, and he was turned over by a big underdog, who was also making his Stateside debut.
In a memorable five knockdown, six-round battle, Marcos Maidana more than left his mark. He stopped Ortiz, and his incredible knockout tally now reads - 25 KO's in 26 wins!!
Remember Maidana couldn't shift Mr Kotelnik, our teak-tough, German-based Ukrainian.
Next week, the big fight preview, but first make sure you tune into Friday Fight Night from Sunderland on Friday to see quite how popular Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries is in 'Mackemland'. They are mad for him!
Topping the North East bill is the British Super-Flyweight title meeting between flashy Lee Haskins and the popular Army boxer, Ross Burkinshaw. Boxing's buzzing in July!
How impressed are you with Andreas Kotelnik? Do you think he has the beating of Amir Khan? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...
