Amir Khan moved up a weight class, challenged a far more experienced reigning champion and even defied his legion of critics to win the WBA light welterweight title last night at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England.

Khan got off to a fast start once the bell rang and the lanky Bolton youth used his height advantage to keep Kotelnik at bay.

It was clear from the start that Kotelnik had issues with the handspeed and fast footwork of Khan but the WBA titlist's biggest problem was that he wasn't near busy enough.

Largely walking slowly forward or remaining stationary with hands held high, Kotelnik picked off most of Khan's shots and combinations with his gloves but his own punch output was nowhere near what Khan was putting up. More...

Last night at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London Frank Warren Promotions hosted a fight night headlined by a Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title defence.

The Champion, classy boxer Nathan Cleverley of Cefn Forest, Wales, faced Billy Boyle, the likable Sheffield boxer.

This was to be ‘Clev’s’ third defence of the title he won when he fought Tony Oakey in October last year and there was no doubting that this was a big opportunity for Boyle - who had just one loss to his name - ironically to Tony Oakey.

But despite a big effort from Boyle, it was clear that this would be a short fight. Cleverley used body-shots and uppercuts with success from the start.

Boyle was in trouble from a barrage of shots in round two and ‘caring’ trainer Glyn Rhodes made the decision to call a stop to the contest. More...

Tickets are now available for Kell Brook's bid to win a Lonsdale belt outright against Young Mutley on May 22.

The British welterweight title fight - Brook's third defence of his title - takes place at historic York Hall, in London's Bethnal Green.

Also on the card is a British super featherweight title eliminator between Anthony Crolla and Gary Sykes, while British super feather champion Kevin Mitchell, Vinny Mitchell, Steven Smith, Liam Walsh, Ryan Walsh, Michael Walsh and heavyweight sensation Derek Chisora are in action. More...

Last night at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, Kelly Pavlik extended his domination over the middleweight division as the lanky Ohio man stopped the challenge of Wales' Gary Lockett in the third round to keep possession of his WBC and WBO titles.

The come forward aggression of Pavik proved too much for his challenger from across the Atlantic to defend against as Lockett had to take a knee twice in the second round in an attempt to stave off the inevitable.

But Lockett's run ended in the third when he was canvassed and trainer Enzo Calzaghe called a halt to the one way traffic.

Pavlik improves to 34-0 (30) while Lockett loses for the first time in 14 bouts to fall to 30-2 (21).

In a battle of big punchers, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, 34-2 (30), of Mexico was shockingly stopped in the first round by challenger Juan Manuel Lopez, 22-0 (20).

British and Commonwealth Super Featherweight Champion Kevin Mitchell, 27-0 (20), was on the bill and the Londoner stopped veteran Colombian southpaw Walter Estrada, 34-6 (23), in five rounds.

Image © Mike Cleary BoxingPhotographs.com

British super featherweight Steven Bell, 14-1 (5), has parlayed a heavily decorated stay as an amateur that saw him as Captain of Team England into a successful career as both a top level professional boxer and a burgeoning actor on some of his country's most popular current television shows and a highly acclaimed feature film.

SaddoBoxing had the good fortune to catch up with Steven as he continues his campaign to rule the 130 pound division in the British Isles and you want want to miss what the 32 year old had to say about his fascinating careers!

SaddoBoxing: How do you feel about your performance recently in beating iron-chinned light welter journeyman Baz Carey over six rounds?

Steven Bell: "Yeah, I have had two good wins now since that defeat [to Femi Fehintola] in October. I won every round against Carey without any problems and boxed the way I planned, so was happy with the performance. More...