Khan claims WBA crown

The 22-year-old from Bolton took the WBA light-welterweight title with a slick unanimous points victory over Ukrainian champion Andreas Kotelnik at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

Khan dominated from start to finish with impressive combinations and footwork, even answering some questions about his chin along the way.

On the early evidence, Khan could have boxed his way to an easy win but instead he was typically aggressive, giving Kotelnik unnecessary opportunities.

Kotelnik, with a record going into the fight of 31-2-1 (13KOs) was repeatedly swallowing Khan's rapid jab but the champion continued to fire back on the counter.

Khan was clearly winning the fight by the halfway stage despite his vulnerable defence, and a hard left counter by Kotelnik in the seventh tested the Lancastrian's supposedly suspect chin.

At times Khan's defensive reflexes were superb, however, and after avoiding a Kotelnik attack nicely in the eighth he fired back with a solid four-punch combination.

Kotelnik knew he needed a knockout but it was Khan who looked most dangerous, landing a left followed by an excellent right in the 10th which was perhaps his best shot of the fight.

Khan continued to needlessly get involved in a fight in the last two rounds and took a heavy right in the opening seconds of the 12th.

However, the silky Briton navigated his way safely to the final bell to take a thoroughly deserved points win with scores of 120-108 and 118-111 twice and capture his first world honours.