Boxing Result: Amir Khan – Willie Limond

It was a stacked undercard last night at London’s O2 Arena in support of the Luevano – Cook main event. The chief bout saw British Golden Boy Amir Khan challenging Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Willie Limond in the first step up fight of the former Olympic Silver Medallist’s two year pro career.

In keeping with the astute management of Khan’s career so far, Limond is no puncher but the Scotsman is far more experienced than Amir and represents the first real threat to the 20 year old’s future in boxing.

Khan has been champing at the bit recently, requesting a higher grade of opponent and Limond fits that bill nicely for the unbeaten twelve fight prospect.

Once the bout starts, Khan’s edge in handspeed is apparent but Limond is looking to take that advantage away by forcing the action and making Amir fight. Any kind of feeling out period has been dispensed with as the two get to grips right away, each scoring to both the head and body but nothing major.

The second sees both men working off the jab and again, no one is pulling clear but Khan is countering well and he’s managed to put some distance between himself and Limond. The Scotsman refuses to be in awe of Khan’s blazing speed and has success to both the body and head of the prospect but isn’t able to boss the starlet.

Khan tries to step it up in the third but Limond shows that he’s not the same kind of limited opponent that the Bolton Wonder has been put in with so far in his career. Limond makes the prospect miss and finds the openings in Khan’s defense for most of the frame.

To Khan’s credit he makes an adjustment and finds Limond with the jab and works in quick combinations but his efforts aren’t hurting his opponent. Limond takes advantage of the lack of snap in Khan’s hands and walks through the leather to land harder shots and one bracing right hand that forces Khan to grab hold.

Limond tries to go forward in the fifth and when he does get in, he hammers Khan’s body but the former Olympian is mostly keeping the Scot of with the jab and blinding flurries that while looking impressive, aren’t damaging the veteran.

Limond goes on the attack in the sixth and paints a surprised Khan with both hands and soon Amir goes to the canvas but beats the count. Limond moves in and bangs home hard shots as Khan grabs hold to stop the punishment.

The Scotsman keeps it up and is raking Khan but he can’t put the Bolton lad away. Khan’s head begins to clear at round’s end and he starts to give as good as he gets, seemingly away from the worst of the trouble from Limond.

The seventh sees Limond looking to repeat his success but while Khan is full of a newfound respect for his foe, he’s no longer hurt. Limond presses the pace but overextends himself as Khan slips a shot and nails Willie with a massive uppercut and followup hook that drops the Commonwealth champion.

Limond gets up with definite damage to his face but beats the count. Khan smells blood and is all over his rival, battering the veteran on the ropes but Willie uses his long experience to ride out the storm.

Khan begins the eighth stalking Limond but appears too low on energy to really force the issue. The two trade shots and Khan starts to exert control on the inside, landing to the body and head while Limond fires back but with less force in his shots.

The ninth never happens as Limond’s corner stop the bout, much to the disappointment of the Scotsman, who looks to have a possible broken nose and jaw.

Khan wins his step up fight, cages the Commonwealth Lightweight title and improves to 13-0 (10). Limond loses for only the second time, falling to 28-2 (8).

In other action on the card, another prospect isn’t as lucky as Khan in a Commonwealth title fight as flashy Londoner Anthony Small, 17-1 (11), was stopped in the seventh by reigning champion Bradley Pryce, 25-6 (15), of Wales.

Commonwealth Heavyweight king Matt Skelton, 21-1 (18), won a rematch with Michael Sprott, 30-11 (15), via majority decision.

Commonwealth Super Feather titlist Kevin Mitchell, 24-0 (17), made short work of Alexander Hrulev, 14-2-1 (9), stopping the Russian in the second.

Middleweight Martin Conception, 12-4 (9), won for the first time in five fights with a first round stoppage of previously unbeaten prospect Matthew Hall, 16-1 (10).

Matthew Marsh, 8-0 (0), outpointed Rocky Dean, 12-9-2 (3), over ten rounds to win the Southern Area Super Bantam belt.

Ex-WBU Feather titlist Steve Foster Jr, 22-1-1 (15), started a comeback with a third round stoppage of Bulgarian journeyman Wladimir Borov, 16-37-1 (6).

Welterweight Jamie Cox made his pro debut a happy one with a four round decision win over Johnny Greaves, 0-3 (0).