Boxing: King Khan Retains Crown in Las Vegas Classic over Maidana
Amir Khan retained his WBA light-welterweight crown with a stunning points win over gutsy Marcos Maidana in a thrilling battle that will be a late contender for fight of the year.
Maidana was set to give Khan's supposedly fragile chin a true test – and the Bolton man passed with flying colours as he put in one of the greatest performances by a British boxer in Las Vegas for some time.
The Argentine challenger came out flying from the first bell, and landed a stunning right hand within the first minute that brought gasps from the crowd as Khan's legs wobbled.
But the 24-year-old recovered well, and came so close to ending the fight at the end of the round when he landed a scintillating left-hook to the body that had Maidana rolling around on the canvas in agony.
The challenger recovered to beat the count but Khan pinned him against the ropes with a flurry of shots, but the bell came just in time for the Argentine.
Khan controlled the second round with some blisteringly fast combinations, but Maidana came back strong again in the third to unleash some more powerful right hands.
When Maidana was deducted a point in the fifth for illegal use of the elbow, Khan looked in complete control, despite the 27-year-old coming back strong again in the sixth and seventh as the champion became slightly ragged.
After winning the next two rounds, Khan looked the favourite to win on points but the big-hearted challenger wasn't going to go down without a fight.
With Khan's chin exposed, Maidana let fly a thundering right hand over the top in the tenth round that caught Khan flush on the chin, to leave the Bolton man stumbling and desperately trying to hold on.
Khan's extensive conditioning work before the fight paid off, as he somehow managed to make it to the end of the round, despite Maidana unloading explosive shots from all angles.
Knowing he was ahead on points, the Bolton boxer had one eye on the clock as he held on throughout the eleventh, before a strong finish in the final round ensured he retained his belt on a unanimous decision.
The judges' scorecards read 114-111, 114-111 and 113-112 all in favour of Khan, and the capacity crowd at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas were brought to their feet to salute both fighters after a stunning 12 rounds of exhilarating boxing.
REACTION:
Khan claimed he proved a point to all his doubters after he withstood numerous heavy punches from Maidana throughout this thrilling battle.
The Bolton boxer's chin has been constantly questioned since his shock defeat against Breidis Prescott in 2008, but Khan now believes he has now silenced his critics.
He said: "Everyone knows Maidana is a big puncher and a big hitter. Everyone says 'Amir's got no chin' but I proved them wrong, I was hit by his best shots and I came back stronger."
Khan did admit that Maidana's big shots did inflict some pain, but he reckons it also shows he has true fighting spirit.
"Maidana was a warrior, he never took a step back and it proves I've got a lion's heart, also.
"At times I was hurt but that's boxing. That's why I'm a great fighter and why I sell out arenas - I fight with heart and I've got skill.
"I'm a great fighter and I train hard. We are going the right way, I'm beating the best out there and I'm not taking any shortcuts."