Khan v Kotelnik - WBA l-welter agreed for June 27

[E]

Good matchmaking. Kotelnik is not a puncher. It think it's a 50/50 fight - due to Khan's weak chin.

In some ways I want Khan ko'd so I don't have to hear Barry McGuigan or whoever talking about his amazing handspeed and devastating power.

[DG.]

Beatable oppo but up at l-welter?

Whatever you say about the boy he is going for it so I say good on him

Link?

Khan get knocked out..

But good on him for going for it..

He said Kotelnoik was thr worst world champ ever so whats the point in fighting him?

He will look foolish when he gets knocked out!

[666boxing]

Khan wil batter him, its a great move. Kotelnik is no way as handy as Diaz. Khan to win by stoppage

[DG.]

Am I the only one thinking that he's taking this fight as it's easier than the Death Row which is the Lightweight division?

[terminator]

Great fight for Khan but who else thinks Khan was a bit stupid on Bunce's show by saying Kotelnik was the worst world champ in boxing? Now thats who he is going after - surely a hollow world title then?

Aye I remember that, now he is saying he has always been impressed with Kotelnik

maybe he was joking the first time round?

[stujones]

It does make sense Khan saying Kotelnik now, if it wasn't the best PR stunt. If this has been in the pipeline and Team Khan have been telling him Kotelnik's weakness's then - it makes a bit of sense. I was a bit suspious why Khan would mention him out of the blue - cause he is no-where near such "praise".

[chesh]

Am I the only one thinking that he's taking this fight as it's easier than the Death Row which is the Lightweight division?

My thoughts exactly. I was just about to write that.

[WestEndRiot]

I really do try not to be such a cynic, and i'm not a Khan hater, but this is exactly what i despise about boxing. There are so many top fights that could easily be made at lightweight, but Warren has picked the worst 'World Champion' and is now going to try and kid everyone that Khan is moving up in weight because he wants to beat the best and prove himself in multiple divisions etc etc etc.....

I know i should be used to it by now but it really boils my piss how blatently he has avoided the best fighters.

[DG.]

I know i should be used to it by now but it really boils my piss how blatently he has avoided the best fighters.

HitmanHatton1 and Raff The Frenchman will pay good money for that.

Send a PM!

[chesh]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Alex Arthur had been promised a fight against the Khan-MAB winner. I'm sure he'll be disappointed, as I imagined that would be for the WBO lightweight title after Marquez vacates (which he surely will, to chase the winner of Hatton-Pac).

[mossy141]

khan should win easy on points if his very,very,very, bad chin holds up.

[Ted]

How does he do it?

[Datsue]

Khan'll win this on points -- never been overly impressed with Kotelnik, his pretty belt aside. Great match for the lad.

That bout against Madana (sp?), in which lots of people were giving both K & the Argie lots of praise I thought was some way below genuine world class.

Kotelnik too mechanical, too staid offensively to trouble Khan.

[exittored]

I'm actually glad Khan is moving up to Light welter, a weight class much better suited to his body frame.

What i don't understand is why some people are saying Andriy Kotelnik is a soft touch(including Khan) maybe he isnt spectacular and lacks power at the top level but he's a very good technical boxer with crisp accurate punching, you could even argue that he should be unbeaten as his 2 loses to Souleymane M'baye and Witter both could have gone his way!

[m1kee50]

Whats the chances that somewhere in the deal when Kotelnik fought Rees, was a clause allowing Khan in at some point?

[Poncey]

Just confirmed on BBC Radio 1. Looks like this is official.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7989987.stm

May have to go.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Lol, looks like Khan must have 'mispoke' Hilary Clinton style -

"I've always been impressed by Kotelnik!" after calling him the worst world champion on Bunce's show.

D'oh!

Anyway, the stage is set for Kotelnik to come over here, do his thing, be pesky and gritty, and take
Khan out late. I just hope to God he can do it.

This is a far cry from Jesper Krispycremesen or Graham 'Let's Get Read to Crumble' Earl. Nothing Amir throws will trouble Kotelnik, the guy is built out of rock. And Amir isnt the puncher who can open
up that Fort Knox guard, Witter couldn't.
We saw Amir start to get closed down and wobbled by a blind blown-up featherweight last time.
What is a still-fresh natural light welter who has
hung tough with some real fighters going to do to
him? Kotelnik KO 7. Very confident.

[dondada]

I really do try not to be such a cynic, and i'm not a Khan hater, but this is exactly what i despise about boxing. There are so many top fights that could easily be made at lightweight, but Warren has picked the worst 'World Champion' and is now going to try and kid everyone that Khan is moving up in weight because he wants to beat the best and prove himself in multiple divisions etc etc etc.....

I know i should be used to it by now but it really boils my piss how blatently he has avoided the best fighters.

[Dirk Kelly]

The question I want answered is where was my phone calls from Mr Warren and Mr Haye checking on my wedding date and honeymoon plans as I'm now going to miss two world title fights.

Now if I can only wriggle out of actually getting married - can you legally be married over a video link?

[EddieShredder]

Good matchmaking. Kotelnik is not a puncher. It think it's a 50/50 fight - due to Khan's weak chin.

In some ways I want Khan ko'd so I don't have to hear Barry McGuigan or whoever talking about his amazing handspeed and devastating power.

I'd rather Barry was KO'd, just so I'd never have to listen to his shite again.

[History]

Decent enough match-up, considering. In the immediate aftermath of the Prescott fight, were there many people who'd have dreamt that Khan would be challenging for the WBA Light Welterweight title inside a year? I thought we'd see him in against a steady stream of St. Clair/ Kristjansen level fighters for at least a couple of years. But Kotelnik is a definite step-up from that, even if he isn't among the creme de la creme.

As an aside, I think it's debatable whether Khan even deserves his shot, considering in his last two fights he's beaten a journeyman with a broken ankle in Fagan, and a supremely talented legend, but one who was perhaps past his best, operating outside of his strongest weight division and who had a handicapping cut almost from the first bell in Barrera.

But he's got it, and if he wins, hopefully it'll be the start of a sequence of fights against genuinely world class opponents. I won't hold my breath though.

[stujones]

I wonder if this move up signifies what was going to happen in the Barrera appeal?

[BABY BLUE]

Great fight for Khan but who else thinks Khan was a bit stupid on Bunce's show by saying Kotelnik was the worst world champ in boxing? Now thats who he is going after - surely a hollow world title then?

Aye I remember that, now he is saying he has always been impressed with Kotelnik

maybe he was joking the first time round?

I think khan knew he was figthing Kotelnik thats why he amde these comments in the first place.if he gets Ko'd well no one will cover for him not even warren lol.

[jimcook]

easy money to be made here....khan fighting someone his own size..hes gonna get destroyed

[stujones]

Agree Baby Blue.... Imagine if Joe Calzaghe says - "okay, I'll comeback to fight Froch" - will people say "Froch thinks he is the worst champion in the world, what an idiot if he loses".