Amir Khan has hit back at Andreas Kotelnik and promised to give him a boxing lesson on July 18 at the M.E.N Arena. Khan, 22, has blasted the Ukrainian from his LA gym after the WBA World Light-Welterweight champion claimed he was a little boy who was going to take a beating. “If he’s going around saying that I am a kid then I will let my fists do the talking, he’s going to be in for a shock. If he thinks it is going to be an easy fight for him then he has got something else coming. “It will be exciting but at the end of the day it will be me with the belt around my waist and we will see who the child is then. His trash talk has made me train a lot harder, made me focused. Knowing someone out there is talking bad about you makes you want to go out there and prove him wrong. “I’m going to give him a boxing lesson. I am confident that I am going to be the teacher and show him what boxing is all about..”
Khan also hit back at suggestions by Kotelnik that he would repeat Breidis Prescott’s first round KO victory in September last year.
And he said it would be Kotelnik who’d be visiting the canvas.
“The fight against Breidis Prescott, it just happened, it was just a mistake,” said Khan.
“My defence has really come on now. I don’t think that Andreas Kotelnik can get a shot on me I’ll be so sharp.
“He will have to find my chin if he is going to knock me out and I don’t think he is going to find it.
“I’m going to be the first guy to knock him out.
“I’m not going to be too big-headed, but I don’t think he has ever been in with someone like me. Moving to 140 pounds has made me stronger, fitter and more explosive. I hit harder.
“Who was the last fighter that he fought? I would have knocked him out.
“I can be the first man to stop Andreas Kotelnik. I have got the energy to go the full 12 rounds, but if he is hurt I will put the pressure on him and I can see a late stoppage happening.”
Betfred, the official betting parter of the show, has Khan is the favourite at 8/15, kotelnik at 6/4 and the draw is 25/1. For further information log on to www.betfred.com
Tickets priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200, £300 & £500 are available from:
M.E.N Arena Box Office: 0844 847 8000 or online at www.men-arena.com
KHAN BACK IN LA
Amir Khan has headed back to LA as he fine-tunes his preparations for his July 18 showdown with Andreas Kotelnik.
Khan will challenge the WBA light-welterweight title holder at the MEN Arena next month.
The fight was switched to Manchester – and put back by three weeks – after Kotelnik picked up an injury in training.
Challenger Khan had spent a lengthy training camp in LA prior to the fight.
And he returned to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in California over the weekend.
Khan will begin sparring again this week, and says the delay won’t affect his preparations too much.
“These things happen in boxing and I’m still going to be in great shape,” said Khan.
“Moving to 140 pounds as helped as well, and I just need to do some more sparring to make sure that I’m spot on for July 18.”
Khan will spend a fortnight in the States before ticking over with Roach in the UK ahead of his first world title challenge.
Betfred, the official betting parter of the show, has Khan is the favourite at 8/15, kotelnik at 6/4 and the draw is 25/1. For further information log on to www.betfred.com
Tickets priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200, £300 & £500 are available from:
M.E.N Arena Box Office: 0844 847 8000 or online at www.men-arena.com
See Tickets: 0871 220 0260 or online at www.seetickets.co.uk
Khan Boxing: 01204 535 332 or online at www.amirkhan-boxing.com