By Cliff Rold
Popular British Lightweight, and 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, Amir Khan (17-0, 13 KO) put himself in position to challenge for the WBO’s lightweight belt with a seventh-round drubbing of Denmark’s 30-year old Martin Kristjansen (19-2-3, 5 KO). Whether the island nation’s answer to Sugar ray Leonard is ready to step in with the man who holds that title, American Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KO), remains to be seen. The bout was held at the Bolton Arena, Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom on Saturday night.
The affair was expected to be a showcase for the talents 21-year old and lived up to such billing. From the outset, Khan used a fast, snapping left jab to open up opportunities for his right hand and harsh left uppercut. With little to fear in Kristjansen’s punches, Khan did little to mitigate his opponent’s offense. That meant eating some leather in exchange for the chance to land his own.
Fortunately for Khan, his greater skill and physical talent meant that he would not have to take more than he dished out.
In the fourth, Khan opened up with multi-punch combinations, ending the round with a particularly nasty left jab-straight right-left uppercut-straight right combination that foretold the eventual ending.
In the seventh, Khan opened up and stunned his foe with a right hand that drove him towards the corner, followed it with a left hand, and, as Kristjansen settled towards the floor, another left hand that strayed towards the foul line. Kristjansen rose on unsteady legs and could do little to stop Khan’s momentum. Right hands would shuttle him to the floor on two more occasions before the referee would step in to halt the action with Kristjansen lying dazed at the foot of a ring corner pad.
As noted the victory secured a leading spot in the WBO ratings but the meaning of that could be confusing. Currently, lineal World Lightweight champion Joel Casamayor, who is also recognized by Ring Magazine, is the interim titlist for that organization. That would appear to allow Casamayor the right of first challenge but could give up that spot to avoid a rematch with the rejuvenated Campbell, who also holds belts from the WBA and IBF.
If he does, Khan could press for his opportunity at Campbell sooner than later. However, with lingering defensive holes, high long term earning potential, and disadvantages in experience, Khan promoter Frank Warren could always elect to have his charge sit on the rating while garnering more experience.
Also notable on the card, 24-year old Liverpool Featherweight Derry Matthews (20-1, 11 KO) fell to defeat for the first time in a fifth-round stoppage loss to 36-year old unheralded Mongolian Choi Tseveenpurev (27-4, 19 KO).
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com