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Khan goes the distance for first title

10/12/2006

Amir Khan won the first title of his career by beating Frenchman Rachid Drilzane for the IBF intercontinental light welterweight belt on a points decision last night after the fight went the full ten rounds.

Khan's 20th birthday was on Friday, allowing him to fight for up to ten rounds, the first level at which title belts can be won. He wasted no time in showing he was up to the challenge.

While the decision was unanimous from the ringside judges it was certainly Khan's toughest test yet in his young career as he admitted he had never gone past the eighth round, even in sparring.

The opening rounds were all trademark Khan as he forced the issue with a tremendous work rate and clever boxing, staying on the end of his jab and causing the Frenchman difficulties.

However his opponent hung in and mounted something of a comeback as the rounds began to look progressively more even. In the seventh round Drilzane then caught Khan with a left that forced the Bolton man to take a standing count.

The young Briton was able to regain his composure and continued the rest of the bout as he had started it, using fast combinations and his jab to stay out of trouble.

After the fight Khan maintained that he had not been hit when he went to the floor in the seventh and that he had merely got entangled in the ring ropes.

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