Khan eyes Stateside bouts after 76-second demolition
WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has vowed to “shock the world” after retaining his title in emphatic style on Saturday night.
The Bolton fighter took just 76 seconds to stop the previously unbeaten Dmitriy Salita and complete a successful first defence of his title.
Victory in Newcastle took Khan’s record to 22 wins from 23 fights and marked another milestone in his vast improvement under top trainer Freddie Roach.
Unlike in his quickfire defeat of American-based Salita, Khan seems in no hurry to fight across the Atlantic – but has promised to make a splash when he does.
“It’s everyone’s dream to go over to Vegas,” said Khan. “After that reception, you don’t want to leave England. But, definitely, in the next year sometime, I think it would be a good move to go to the States. I train over there and I love it there. Next year sometime is what we’re looking at and we’re going to hopefully shock the world when we go to America.”
Roach is thought to have identified American pair Luis Castillo and Zab Judah, and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez as potential next opponents for the 22-year-old.
An all-English bout with Ricky Hatton, out of the ring since his demolition at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in May, has also been mooted.
But promoter Frank Warren said: “I don’t feel Ricky Hatton should fight any more. Maybe he could get himself down to the weight, but one thing’s for sure, his reflexes and his legs are gone.”
He added: “He Khan will go and fight in the States, of course he will. What fighter doesn’t want to fight at Madison Square Garden or in Las Vegas? He’s got the ambition to do that and prove himself over there. He will do that.”