AMIR KHAN will finally settle his long feud with Brit rival Kell Brook this Saturday in Manchester.
The two former world champions have been trash-talking each other for years – but only now will they get to thrash it out in the ring.
For many, the scrap has come five years too late.
But tickets selling out in just ten minutes shows it still has fight fans hot under the collar to see who will win the Battle of Britain.
The pair will trade leather at a catchweight of 149lbs – 2lbs above welterweight where Khan, 34, has fought for most of his career.
Here, SunSport runs through Khan’s five biggest ever wins, with his thrashing of Paulie Malignaggi on points just missing making the list.
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Marco Antonio Barrera – TD Rnd 5, 2009
Khan took a huge risk in taking on Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in March 2009, just sixth months after he was brutally KO’d by Breidis Prescott.
That will go down as one of boxing’s biggest ever shocks, so the fact that Khan managed to regroup and beat Barrera deserves a lot of credit.
Unfortunately the fight was stopped at the end of the fifth round, when a cut on Barrera’s forehead forced his retirement.
It went to the judges scorecards, with Khan well ahead, triumphing 50-44, 50-45, 50-45 to secure a technical decision.
Dmitry Salita – KO Rnd 1, 2009
On paper this was a risky first title defence.
Salita arrived in Newcastle undefeated, although many questioned the level of opponents he had faced.
The New York-based boxer was on the seat of his pants after just TEN SECONDS.
He was floored two more times before the fight was waved off. Khan was hoisted onto his coach’s shoulders, as the home crowd whooped with delight.
Salita was on his knees in the corner, stunned at the blistering hand-speed of Britain’s newest hero.
Marcos Maidana – UD, 2010
The fact that this was named Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America says it all.
It was the next step for Khan to take in his bid to unify the light-welterweight division.
But Maidana was some obstacle to get out of the way.
Khan made a stunning start, flooring Maidana with some vicious body shots in the first round.
But there wasn’t much between the two as the fight progressed, though Maidana being docked a point for an elbow in the fifth meant he was playing catch up on the scorecards.
The Argentine hardman had Khan out on his feet in the tenth, only the ropes keeping the Bolton man on his feet.
Khan secured a unanimous points win, 114-11, 114-111 and 113-112 – and he went on to unify by adding the IBF belt by beating Zab Judah the following year.
Luis Collazo – UD, 2014
This fight had everything with Khan simply brilliant on a dazzling night in Las Vegas in May 2015.
Experienced Collazo had eight years earlier taken legendary Brit Ricky Hatton to the scorecards, and his durability was never questioned.
But Khan put on a boxing clinic in front of a heavily-impressed American audience.
He floored the New Yorker once in round four and twice in round ten, with both fighters deducted a point in round eight for roughouse tactics.
The judges scored it 119-104, 119-104 and 117-106 in what surely is one of the widest-margin victories of all time.
Devon Alexander – UD, 2014
Khan called out the great Floyd Mayweather after a beautiful performance to easily outpoint Devon Alexander.
And some might have even given him a chance of an upset against ‘Money’ such was the skillset he showed to beat Alexander.
The three judges scored it 119-109, 118-110 and 120-108 in his favour at the MGM Grand.
It was Alexander’s third defeat in 29 fights – but he was battered from the onset as Khan’s jab ruled supreme.
Khan described it at the time as ‘one of his greatest ever performances’.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
