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...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Yesterday, at the Triangle Shopping Centre in Manchester, England, Frank Warren and Sports Network hosted the official weigh-in ahead of tonight's much anticipated clash between Amir Khan of Bolton, England, and Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico as they fight for the vacant WBO Intercontinental and WBA International lightweight titles.

Well-known Promoter Don King, supplied the entertainment as he laughed and waved flags for the duration. 'Donning' a denim jacket embellished with his portrait and his slogan, 'Only In America - The Greatest Nation in the World', the fuzzy haired promoter looked to be enjoying the occasion as he stood on the podium awaiting the boxers and occasionally calling out 'Long Live Mexico'.

Looking to be a real 'people-man', King took time to speak to - and take photographs with - many of the general public waiting around the weigh-in area. More...

Last night at Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes there was a good card headlined by promising Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly.

The 21 year old Welsh phenom retained his title for the first time by knocking out Kenyan southpaw Douglas Otieno in the fourth frame of a scheduled 12 rounder.

Cleverly improves to 14-0 (4) while Otieno sees a 15 bout win streak snapped to fall to 18-2 (8).

Manchester light middle Matthew Hall, 21-1 (14), won his fifth bout in a row when he finished off Jason Rushton, 18-8 (3), in the sixth.

Two former Hatton brothers stablemates were also on the bill as middleweight Paul Smith, 25-1 (14), outpointed Ciaran Healy, 9-10-1 (2), and super feather Steven Bell, 16-1-2 (5), outpointed Shaun Walton, 4-40-3 (1), in six round bouts.

Prospects Anthony Crolla, Stephen Smith, Tony Bellew and Liam Smith all were winners on the card as well.

On Saturday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, Amir Khan successfully defended his Commonwealth Lightweight title by stopping tough Irish-Mancunian Michael Gomez, in round five of a grueling contest.

But it was never going to be an ‘easy’ fight for Khan and Gomez clearly ‘rattled’ the Bolton man, who suffered a knockdown following a left hook from Gomez in round two. Despite being knocked down himself in round one, big-hearted Gomez continued to walk forward in his usual ‘bullish’ manner.

And in true ‘Rocky’ style - stood fast as he took a number of punches from the Champion, I think he would have stood there all night if the referee hadn’t stopped it - such is the ‘fighting-never give-up’ attitude of Gomez.

Afterward, a calm and thoughtful Gomez admitted to feeling a bit ‘sluggish’ and was disappointed with his performance, but gave huge credit to Khan - who Gomez said had ‘great hand-speed’ but felt that Amir was a ‘vulnerable’ fighter.

That seems the general feeling of those close to, and not so close, to Khan, that he still had things to learn before going for a world-title. More...

Saturday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, former British and WBU Super Feather Champ Michael Gomez gave Commonwealth Lightweight titlist Amir Khan a tremendous fight before being controversially stopped in the fifth round of a thrilling contest.

Gomez came out in his characteristically aggressive manner, surging forward behind the jab and forcing Khan onto the backfoot immediately. Khan attempted to pick off his opponent but Gomez bobbed and weaved his way inside, lashing the Bolton starlet to the body whenever close enough to do so.

Khan showed his quality early as well, dumping the Manchester hard man on the seat of his pants at the end of a multi-punch combination to the head at close quarters but Gomez was up at once, resuming his pressure as if the knockdown never happened.

The second frame saw Gomez cutting off the ring, forcing Khan to throw more punches in an attempt to stem the tide. As Gomez gained ground, he backed Khan onto the ropes and Amir let loose a blindingly fast flurry but the man born Michael Armstrong walked through it and unleashed a right hook, left hook combination to the head that made Khan go down on his knees from the force. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Yesterday, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, Amir Khan, 17-0 (13), came face-to-face with Michael Gomez, 35-8 (24), as they weighed in ahead of their Commonwealth Lightweight title contest tonight at the NIA.

First up was the challenger Gomez, a former British and WBU Super Featherweight Champion, who immediately stripped naked before stepping on to the scales. He neednʼt have worried as he made the weight at 9 stone 8 lb (134 lb).

Next up was the Champion, Khan, who - looking in fantastic physical condition - calmly took to the scales and weighed in half a pound under the limit. Both men were ʼtight-lippedʼ as they faced each other for the obligatory press photograph.

Khan remained cool and expressionless while Gomez couldnʼt suppress the ʽglintʼ in his eye and the wry smile that sneaked on to his lips in the closing seconds. More...

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Saturday 21 June, at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England, sees the much anticipated clash between Michael Gomez and Amir Khan in a Sports Network / Frank Warren promoted fight night.

Gomez, fighting out of Bobby Rimmer’s Fight Academy, Stalybridge, Manchester - is looking for the best birthday present ever - successfully defeating Bolton’s Khan.

Khan, who now trains under Dean Powell, will be looking for his 18th professional win and fourth defence of his Commonwealth Lightweight title in front of a sell-out crowd.

SaddoBoxing spoke to Bobby Rimmer this morning regarding the fight: More...

© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing

SaddoBoxing had the good fortune to catch up with one of the top middleweights in Britain, Paul Smith, 23-0 (13), while in Ricky Hatton's dressing room following the victory of "The Hitman" over Juan Lazcano recently at City of Manchester Stadium in England.

Paul had burst onto the national scene in Britain on the strength of his 2002 Commonwealth Games Silver Medal winning performance as a light middleweight, losing only to Canada's Jean Pascal, the currently undefeated NABO/NABF/NABA Super Middleweight Champion.

Turning pro in April, 2003, the Liverpool based "Real Gone Kid" matriculated under the watchful eye of trainer Billy Graham, counting Ricky and Matthew Hatton along with Matt Macklin, Steven Bell among his stablemates and ran his record to 14-0 through 2005. More...