By Alan Hubbard. Bolton’s finest wastes no time in showing his world-class standing under Roach.

Amir Khan produced the most stunning performance of his young career to retain his World Boxing Association light-welterweight title in just 76 seconds here at the Metro Radio Arena last night.

His mandatory challenger, Dmitriy Salita, literally never knew what hit him, hammered to the floor three times in the opening round and beaten for the first time in 32 contests.

The echoes of the opening bell had barely died away before Khan sent him crashing with a sweetly delivered right to the jaw. He rose pale and shaken to take a statutory eight-count before Khan pounced again, pummelling him to one knee in the neutral corner before he was hauled off by Puerto Rican referee Luis Pablon.

Again, the Ukrainian emigre from Brooklyn got to his feet only to be chased across the ring and sent flying into the ropes with a left hook which prompted the referee to step in and save him from what would have been further savage humiliation.

Stunning indeed, and no one was more stunned than Salita, the 27-year-old who on paper was due to present Khan with the most exacting examination since the former Olympic silver medallist was himself flattened by Breidis Prescott last year. Khan did to Salita what Prescott did to him, showing how much he has improved and how his skills and speed have been honed in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Freddie Roach.

“Very explosive,” said Khan. “It was just what we asked for. We had too much firepower for this guy. After the first shot I could see his legs buckling.” He went on to thank Roach for helping to get his career back on track. “Freddie is like a father figure to me and just having him in the corner gives me so much confidence.”

He added: “It was a blessing in disguise what happened to me against Prescott. I’ve come back stronger and now I’m a world champion and a world champion defender.” Khan, who will be 23 on Tuesday, showed how far he has grown beyond his boxing adolescence. These were fists of fury which landed cleanly and precisely.

If there was any doubt about the reaction Khan would receive from the capacity crowd of 10,000 after his comments that he was disturbed by what he felt was a racist attitude in this country, it was clear from the reception he received that he is indeed a genuine sporting hero.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/boxing-khan-leaves-salita-in-a-heap-with-thrilling-show-of-force-1835148.html

One of the best boxing knockouts of Khan’s career!