Amir Khan Beats Andriy Kotelnik on Points
Bolton Boxer Wins His First World Title In A Twelve Round Contest
Coming into this bout, Andriy Kotelnik was seen as a very potent threat to British boxer Amir Khan. However, Khan dealt with Kotelnik admirably, and showed that he is most definitely world class, and deserves the WBA Light Welterweight Title he won tonight.
How Khan vs. Kotelnik Went
In the first round, Khan dominated, utilising his jab to great effect, and bamboozling Kotelnik with his speed. However, he left himself open at points, prompting fears he would get caught cleanly later on in the fight.
However, these fears were relaxed slightly when in rounds two and three Khan took some decent punches from the Ukranian. His punch resistance looks to be much improved at light welterweight, and the work put in by Alex Ariza, his strength and conditioning coach to strengthen his legs has apparently worked wonders.
Khan still won these rounds though. His triple jab was outstanding and the combinations were flowing beautifully.
However, Kotelnik got into the fight in the fourth. He hit Khan with some good body shots, and all Khan could hit was Kotelnik's gloves.
This changed quite dramatically though in the next session. While Khan was still hitting gloves for the most part, he was throwing fantastic combinations and forcing Kotelnik back. It was apparent here that Kotelnik had no answer to the speed of Khan.
In the next two rounds, Kotelnik was appaling. His workrate was dire and Khan seemed to be getting through the guard of Kotelnik with more and more ease.
To be fair to the Ukranian though, he took the next round. However, there was a sense of desperation about his work even at this stage, and Khan's chin was holding up against even more good punches from Kotelnik.
Kotelnik, obviously knowing he was behind put his heart and soul into the last three rounds. He never stopped coming forward and probably took the tenth and twelfth rounds. Unfortunately for him though, it seemed Khan had enough left to avoid the knockout that Kotelnik needed, and Khan fought his way to a unanimous decision victory.
A Much Improved Khan
This version of Amir Khan was ten times as good as the one that lost to Bredis Prescott less than a year ago. His defence is much improved (all credit belongs to Freddie Roach for that) and the move up in weight and leg strengthening has improved his punch resistance massively.
Kotelnik was an opponent of the highest quality, and Khan deserves a lot of credit for dealing with a genuine world champion with such a good performance.
Small Takes Hall to School
Anthony Small took Collyhurst's Matthew Hall's Commonwealth and British light-middleweight titles away from him with a tactically astute performance which left Hall confused.
Small would hit Hall at range and when the 'Little Bull' ever came up close, Small would negate the power of Hall by clinching. Hall was truly outclassed by a man who can really sell a fight with his mouth. The stylist Anthony Small is certainly one to look out for on a European level, and may even get to the world stage, but Hall showed he is one dimensional, and has probably already peaked.
Olympians Shine As Expected
James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders all got TKO's on their records with impressive performances against tough journeymen.
DeGale destroyed Ireland's Ciaran Healy with an unexpected first round barrage. DeGale is starting to look a very tasty prospect.
Gavin also looked good, wasting no punches against York's Graham Fearn. Fearn gave it a good go, but Gavin's precise body shots were too much for him, and after two knockdowns, the referee waved the fight off.
Saunders was the most impressive though. No one expected him to dissect hardman Matt Scriven inside two rounds, yet he used his boxing brain and never let Scriven off the hook.
Rest of the Undercard
Enzo Maccarinelli was stopped in three by tough Russian Denis Lebedev. This looks to be the end of the road for Enzo at the top level as that is the third consecutive time he has been stopped.
Kell Brook also impressed with a three round TKO win over Prizefighter winner Michael Lomax. The Sheffield welterweight looks to be a very good prospect for the future.
Khan vs. Kotelnik Summary
Amir Khan looked truly fantastic tonight against Andriy Kotelnik. His defence is much improved and moving up a weight has done him a lot of good. Only time will tell if he is the next British boxing star, but he looked the business tonight.
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