Amir Khan comes home a hero, even though he has not fully comprehended the thrilling enormity of his victory over Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas.
Britain’s world light-welterweight champion woke up without a headache the morning after absorbing so many big hits from one of the hardest punchers on the planet that he was taken to hospital for a precautionary brain scan.
Amazingly, Khan’s recollection of an epic 10th round through most of which he was sent lurching across the ring by Maidana’s right-handers was at variance with what we witnessed.
‘He didn’t really hurt me,’ said Khan. ‘Although he caught me with one massive shot and then followed up with several more, I always knew where I was and what I was doing.’
More likely, he was in that twilight zone where great boxers somehow survive without realising how deeply they are in trouble.
Maidana paid him a more accurate compliment when he said: ‘I simply can’t believe that Amir got through that round. None of the opponents I?ve hit like that before have stayed on their feet.’
The Argentine would relish a re-match but Khan has no need to resume hostilities with such a damaging puncher. He has disproved the slurs against his chin and his heart in such dramatic fashion that his stock has soared in the UK and the US.
Punishment: Maidana lands time and time again but can’t get the better of Khan
As we breakfasted on the Strip, Americans queued for photographs and autographs and asked when they should start booking to see his next fight.
That is likely to be a homecoming event in England in April, with Zab Judah on the short list of opponents to provide a warm-up for a summer return to Vegas and a world title unification fight with the winner of the forthcoming match-up between alternative champions Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander.
If all that goes according to plan, Khan will be ready to move up to welterweight in search of a mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
He is big at light-welter and explains his earlier apparent vulnerability to the draining effect of training down to lightweight: ‘Every time I got decked I had been weakened by shedding the pounds. I knew I had a good chin and would be stronger once I was heavier.’
Dream team: Khan with his trainer Roach (second left), strength coach Alex Ariza (right) and WBA president Gilberto Mendoza
With that point so excitingly proved he is now into his quest to succeed his friend and sparring partner Manny Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
‘Like the PacMan,’ he says, ‘I think I can eventually go up to light-middleweight.’
His trainer of the decade, Freddie Roach agrees: ‘Amir has just shown the world what we knew already, that he has everything it takes to become a world champion at multiple weights.’
That he has – and the world can’t wait for the next instalment.
