This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/boxing/6165959.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Khan tested on way to first title | Khan tested on way to first title |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Amir Khan won the first title of his professional career as he beat Rachid Drilzane for the IBF inter-continental light welterweight title on Saturday. | Amir Khan won the first title of his professional career as he beat Rachid Drilzane for the IBF inter-continental light welterweight title on Saturday. |
| But the Olympic silver medallist was made to work hard for his win, which came on points after 10 hard rounds. | But the Olympic silver medallist was made to work hard for his win, which came on points after 10 hard rounds. |
| Khan, who turned 20 on Friday, was fighting a 10-round bout for the first time, and he got his toughest test. | Khan, who turned 20 on Friday, was fighting a 10-round bout for the first time, and he got his toughest test. |
| The Bolton fighter took a standing count in the seventh but his constant jabbing earned a unanimous points win. | The Bolton fighter took a standing count in the seventh but his constant jabbing earned a unanimous points win. |
| Khan used his lightening-fast hands to direct the fight in the opening couple of rounds, as he rocked Drilzane with some excellent shots. | Khan used his lightening-fast hands to direct the fight in the opening couple of rounds, as he rocked Drilzane with some excellent shots. |
| But the Frenchman was also throwing some decent punches, and the third, fourth and fifth rounds saw him continuing to press Khan. | |
| Once the sixth round came and went, Khan was into virgin territory as he had never before fought beyond this point in his fledgling career. | |
| Perhaps tellingly, he did not have a good seventh. | |
| My teenage years have gone, I'm celebrating my 20th birthday and my first belt Amir Khan | My teenage years have gone, I'm celebrating my 20th birthday and my first belt Amir Khan |
| Drilzane started that round with real intent, pursuing Khan around the ring, and forced Khan to take a standing count midway through when he caught him with a good left. | |
| In the eighth, Khan managed to get back on top, getting around the ring again and probing constantly with his quick combinations. | |
| The ninth again followed a similar pattern as Khan kept his nose in front on points whilst also being tested by the dogged Drilzane. | The ninth again followed a similar pattern as Khan kept his nose in front on points whilst also being tested by the dogged Drilzane. |
| Even in the final round, Drilzane, knowing he probably needed a knockout, went after the Briton, but Khan was able to keep boxing, and keep out of danger, as he took his first title. | |
| With a bright future ahead of him, Khan may well see his first 10-round work-out, in only his 10th professional fight, as more useful than the belt. | |
| "To be honest I've never gone eight rounds even in sparring," Khan told ITV. "But I've shown that I can take a punch and come back from it." | "To be honest I've never gone eight rounds even in sparring," Khan told ITV. "But I've shown that I can take a punch and come back from it." |
| Khan said his seventh-round knockdown was "not a knockdown" and added that his foot got stuck in the ropes. "There was no punch thrown," he insisted. | |
| "My teenage years have gone, I'm celebrating my 20th birthday and my first belt." |