Amir Khan claims IBF title with KO over Judah – Highlights

Raleigh Mcpherson July 25, 2011 1

Amir Khan claims IBF title with KO over Judah – Highlights

LAS VEGAS: Pakistan-origin British boxer Amir Khan once again silenced his critics in a big way, this time by knocking out Zab Judah in only the fifth round to add the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Welterweight title to his WBA Super Lightweight crown here in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Amir Khan. Courtesy: Getty Images

Amir Khan used his power and speed to outdo Zab Judah, who has won 41 bouts as against seven defeats and during the course he has knocked out 28 opponents.

A flurry of punches on Judah’s body brought him down to Amir Khan’s knees. As most of the losers do, Judah complained of a body shot below the belt but television replays clearly showed that the punches were legal and on the belt line thus swaying away the conspiracies from the result.

Amir Khan, Zab Judah. Courtesy: Reuters

Amir Khan, who has now won 26 bouts as against only one defeat and has knocked out 18 of his opponents, told reporters after the fight, “I knew he was getting hurt because he kept moving away and ducking. I kept hitting him in the face but the punch that dropped him was clean and on the belt.”

Amir Khan was right on top of his game right from the first round and used his solid straight right hands to punish his American opponent who was effective with his methodical head movement during the initial rounds but he couldn’t hit Khan with many punches as the British boxer got the better of him as the bout proceeded.

Amir Khan. Courtesy: AP PHOTO

As per the statistics, Amir Khan threw 284 punches on Zab Judah hitting him on 61 occasions while the American boxer could return only 115 punches landing only 20 on target.

The brutal and ruthless approach by Amir Khan helped him to devastate Judah mentally and physically and he literally bowed out in the fifth round when Khan threw a flurry of punches on him hitting on the belt line causing him to fall like a house of cards.

Amir Khan. Courtesy: Reuters

Amir Khan said, “If it had gone a few more rounds, I would have knocked him out with a clean shot. It was just a matter of time. I think I overwhelmed him with my speed and power. I could have gone in with a plan to knock him out sooner, but I wanted to take my time.”

Prior to the lethal fifth round, Amir Khan had won all the four initial rounds and while Judah kept complaining that the couple de grace was a foul blow it was Khan who once again put a lid on the mouths of his critics.

The disgraced Zab Judah said, “It was a low blow. I was trying to get myself together. When the referee started counting, I thought he was giving me a standing eight count. I thought I would have the chance to get up. I didn’t understand.”