Amir Khan of Bolton, England, showed why he is on the right track to be one of the greatest boxers in the world.
Amir Khan, is the youngest ever British boxer to ever win an Olympic medal when at 17 he won silver medal in the light weight category at the 2004 Athens Olympic, losing to Cuban fighter, Mario Kindelan in the gold medal match.
On this evening of December the 11th, 2010 in Las Vegas, Khan, who turns 24 just 3 days ago, successfully defended his WBA light-welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over the pride of La Plata, Argentina, Marcos Maidana in a thrilling 12 rounds fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
With this win, Amir Khan or King Khan, the pride of Bolton, improved to 24 wins with 17 knock-outs and just 1 defeat.
The only defeat Khan suffered in his career was the 60-second stunning knock-out by Breidis Prescott on 6th September 2008.
Meanwhile this is Maidana's second defeat in his gliterring career. Before this fight, Maidana - the Argentine superpuncher has 29 wins under his belt, 27 of them by Knockouts and only 1 defeat.
In his first ever Las Vegas showdown, the Bolton fighter had his opponent down in the first round with a brutal combination of body shots after being rocked himself with two huge hooks from the Argentine.
Khan looked to have the fight under control but was wobbled in the 10th and was lucky to survive the round.
The three judges ringside scored the fight 114-111, 114-111, 113-112.
Khan, 24, answered every question about his suspect chin in his third title defence, finishing the fight with blood dripping from his nose after taking several fierce shots.
The fight will go down as one of the most entertaining of the year with both boxers trading punches throughout.
The fight started with Khan taking two huge right hands from the free-swinging, big-hitting Maidana which rocked the champion as memories of his 60-second defeat by Breidis Prescott in 2008 came flooding back.
The legs of the champion stiffened again but he proved that under trainer Freddie Roach he is now a very different fighter, showing great resolve and heart as he responded in kind with a cluster of shots that also found the target.
A brilliant body shot at the end of the round landed flush on the ribs of Maidana and floored the Argentine, who looked in agony as he went crashing to the canvas. Maidana survived the eight count and made it through to the end of the round but the signs looked ominous for the challenger.
Khan started the second in electric fashion but took a left hook flush on the chin, while the Bolton fighter later continued to pepper the body of Maidana who was still clearly in pain from that first-round punch.
A right hand from Khan early in the third wobbled Maidana, who responded with a right hook of his own that hurt the champion. The punch spurred Maidana on in a thrilling round as Khan looked to hold on and clear his head in the face of relentless pressure.
Khan was back to his best early in the fourth with his speed proving too much for Maidana early in the round. The 2004 Athens Olympic silver medallist produced some fine combinations to both the body and the head but Khan took an uppercut midway through the round which reminded him of the South American's power.
A right hand early in the fifth rocked Maidana and the frustrated challenger was later docked a point for an elbow midway through the round. Khan's intensity continued throughout the round with an uppercut and a body shot breaking the spirit of his opponent.
Maidana came out firing in the sixth and Khan was rocked with a fierce hook that appeared to stun the Bolton fighter. Khan continued to lose his way in the sixth as his defence dropped and Maidana took his opportunity to rough up the champion who, for the first time, looked in real danger of losing his title
A cut opened up above the right eye of Maidana, who found success with the jab in the seventh as Khan's performance started to become ragged. An uppercut also hurt Khan who looked as if he was running out of steam, and Maidana ended the round with some clubbing shots including a huge right over the top as the fight started to go his way.
Maidana looked tired at the start of the eighth as Khan used his skills and boxing ability to peg back his opponent, and the pace of the fight noticeably slowed for the first time in a thrilling contest.
A stunning three-punch combination which went straight through the guard of 27-year-old Maidana and hurt the challenger, who later went to the canvas after an uppercut - but it was rightly ruled a slip.
Khan was in real trouble in the 10th round.
Khan boxed at long range in the 10th but he was caught with a thunderous overhand right to the chin.
He had two minutes to hold on until the end of the round and shipped several sickening concussive punches, and it almost defied belief that he managed to hold on and stumble to his stool, which he initially failed to locate.
Sensing victory, Maidana came out flying in the 11th as Khan backtracked throughout the round with his legs unsteady and at times appearing to lock.
The punches were only coming from the Argentine but, from out of nowhere, Khan found a massive uppercut that rocked Maidana only for the South American to end the round with one of his own.
The challenger came out like a raging bull in the final round and had Khan pinned up against the ropes.
Maidana was ending the round the stronger with Khan holding on for the final bell.
The final 30 seconds saw both boxers go toe-to-toe, with Khan showing unbelievable spirit to end the fight on top as he abandoned survival mode in favour of the grandstand finish this remarkable bout deserved.
"I have to say Maidana's a warrior, he never took a step back and it shows that I've got a lion's heart," Khan afterwards. "At times I was hurt, but I had to dig deeper and that's boxing for you.
Video of the weigh in of the Amir Khan and Maidana matchup at the Mandala Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
And below is a video of Amir Khan first and only defeat - a stunning 1st round Knock-out by Breidis Prescott.
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