King Khan Crowned

Billed as ‘The Man Who Would Be King’, Amir Khan last night ascended to the throne in quite remarkable fashion.
10 months after his devastating kayo at the hands of Breidis Prescott (who coincidentally had lost his first fight on Friday night) Khan returned to the Manchester MEN Arena and totally erased the memory with a shut out of WBA junior welter weight champion Andreas Kotelnik.
Khan, fighting for the first time at junior welterweight, started strongly and it was immediately apparent that his speed of foot and hand would trouble Kotelnik as he seemed to beat the defending champion to the punch and escape before Kotelnik could reply.
Kotelnik, a slick counter puncher, always seemed a step behind as Khan effectively used his jab to not only create openings but to keep the stalking Kotelnik at bay. In the second round alarm bells rang as the previously weak chinned Khan was caught with a right hand after a succession of hooks to the body but Khan showed no ill affect and immediately fired back. It appeared moving up in weight had helped with his punch resistance.
The fight placed both men in unfamiliar scenarios as Kotelnik worked aggressively at a high rate, whereas Khan was fighting going back and very often on the back foot. But Khan was too elusive, always moving working behind a high tight guard and it became evident he was frustrating the champion. Khan began to pick Kotelnik off with shots, threw lighting fast combinations and backed Kotelnik’s up with flurries.
In the 8th round we saw a moment of brilliance from Khan, as Kotelnik trapped him on the ropes. Kotelnik came in aggressively looking to slow the young Olympian down but Khan was too fast as he bobbed, weaved and escaped firing back his own shots against the Ukrainian with whom he had switched positions.
Kotelnik himself kept a tight, high guard and was able to catch many of Khan’s head punches on his arms thus Khan dug hooks to the body as the Kotelnik continued to hunt him.
In the 10th round the action slowed as Khan appeared to lose some energy. Khan had only been the distance once whereas Kotelnik is used to going 12 rounds. Sensing Khan tiring, Kotelnik stepped up his attack in the 11th catching Khan with a right hand to which Khan stood firm. Kotelnik really let his hands go but Khan was able to cover up as well as fire back his own counters.
Coming into the 12th Kotelnik appeared to have more spring in his step than Khan and went looking for the knockout. Khan stood and traded with Kotelnik throwing counter combinations but also coasted content with allowing Kotelnik to chase him. As the final bell went both men raised their arms but there was only one winner as the judges had it 120-108, 118-111 and 118-111 in favour of Khan as the 22 year old was crowned the new WBA junior welter weight champion.