Khan vs Kotelnik

lets f*%*&ing have em!!!

Ok Guys here is the writeup. If you didn't take the price when I first posted, I still would recommend unloading as much as you can on the 4/11.. Below is why..

 

Amir Khan bids to complete a truly remarkable transformation when he meets Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title in Manchester on Saturday night. Within the space of 12 months Khan has gone from pugilistic palooka to possible champion of the world and if he can get the better of Ukraine stylist Kotelnik at the MEN Arena this weekend he will finally realise his boyhood dream. Last September Khan's dreams were shattered by the brutal fists of Breidis Prescott, who stopped the Bolton prodigy in just 54 seconds in the very ring where Saturday's drama will be played out. Critics were queuing up after that KO defeat to write Khan's ring obituary despite his tender years. 'No chin, no defence, no chance' they crowed in the days after Prescott. However to his eternal credit Khan has rebuilt with two good wins since, including a fine taming of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera last time out and as a result he finds himself on the cusp of world title glory. He's moving up in weight (from 135 to 140lbs) to have a crack at the more experienced Kotelnik but despite this there has been plenty of money for Khan to get the job done (he opened up at 8/13 with some layers but is as short as 1/3 in places now). Kotelnik is well known to fans this side of the pond having boxed in the UK. Like Khan he is an Olympic silver medallist at lightweight (Sydney 2000) and European fans will remember him from bouts against Junior Witter, Souley M'Baye and Gavin Rees. He lost a disputed decision to Witter in Nottingham in 2005 and two years later was held to a draw by M'baye in Liverpool (in a fight many observers had him winning handily). But he made it third time lucky on UK soil when he out-pointed Rees for the WBA belt in March 2008.

 

He's made two defences since then including a hugely impressive points win over Marcos Maidana last time out. Maidana was last seen icing top US prospect 'Vicious' Victor Ortiz and so the fact that Kotelnik holds a win over the Argentine should tell us plenty about his ability. He boxes out of a classic European style. He's very upright and spears out a fine jab through a tight defence. In 34 fights he's never been stopped which suggests his chin is pretty decent. Indeed Khan himself conceded this week that he doesn't see the fight ending via an early KO. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday he said "It's going to be a skilful fight, more about technique, and I don't think it's going to finish early." Nor do I. I envisage a chess match early on as both men try to take control of the bout from ring centre. The jury is still out on Khan's chin but I don't think Kotelnik has the power to trouble Amir (his KO ratio is less than 40%) and that could ultimately be his downfall on the night. Khan is one of the fastest, most dynamic fighters in the game and looks a fighter reborn under Freddie Roach. I can see him trying to dazzle his eastern European opponent with those flashy, accurate combinations and though he may have to survive one of two rocky moments himself I see him doing enough to earn a unanimous decision win. So if you looking for value that might be the way to go.

 

However, I do not like or recommend beating on methods of victory. I believed that day when I saw Khan win silver in Athens, with the right guidance this guy would be a world champion. He has got the right fight, against the right opponent and he fights on home turf. If you haven't done so already unload. You won't regret it...

 

5 Star bet. Amir Khan to win.