Amir Khan continued to shake the specter of knockout defeat back in 2008 by capturing the WBA junior welterweight championship from Andreas Kotelnik tonight in Manchester, England.
Controlling the action behind well placed punching and lateral movement, Khan cruised to a 120-108, 118-111. 118-111 win and following the fight his promoter Frank Warren bragged that his fighter had become a world champion only in his 22nd fight.
But is Khan a world champion? No.
He might have a sleek black leather belt with golden metallic trimming, but he is not the best fighter in the 140 pound division which also has IBF “champion” Juan Urango, WBO “champion” Timothy Bradley, and pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao all floating around the neighborhood.
Clearly Mr. Pacquiao is the best of the division, though he has no sanctioned belt, the Filipino destroyed Ricky Hatton earlier this year to cement himself as a junior welterweight master.
Khan may have looked focused tonight, with no defensive letdowns and clearly improved under the horn-rimmed eyes of coach Freddie Roach, but does not have the fire or polish to challenge Pacquiao. A battle against the winner of Nate Campbell – Timothy Bradly, which takes place in August, would be a nice litmus taste for the young Brit.
