Khan tested for first pro boxing title

LONDON—Amir Khan has won his first title as a professional with a ten-round points win to capture the IBF Intercontinental light-welterweight belt, but then claimed his immediate future is at the division below.
Khan, from Bolton in England, faced his toughest fight in the paid ranks in his first ten round bout against Frenchman Rachid Drilzane at the ExCeL Arena in London Docklands early on Sunday morning.
Britain’s 2004 Olympic silver medallist had to survive a scare in the seventh round when he was given a count - the first in his ten-fight professional career - before regaining control and finishing strongly.
But despite winning his first prize in the ring since his silver at the Athens Olympic Games two years ago, Khan does not see himself even defending the newly won title at light-welterweight.
“I’m a lightweight and I was only one pound off the lightweight limit for this fight, but I only went up to experience the ten rounds distance and the chance to experience a title fight,” Khan told Sunday.
“I will be fighting at lightweight after this. It was a great experience and I learnt a lot. He came to beat me. There was a title on the line and he was trying that little bit more to beat me.
“I knew I took a few shots, but that’s boxing. It means a lot to me to win the title. I’m not learning anything by knocking out people in the first and second rounds but I learnt a lot out there.”
Khan, who nearly boxed for Pakistan - where his parents were born - at the 2004 Olympics, has claimed he will be ready for a world title shot in five fights and wants to be a world champion at the age of 21. He considers himself to be well on track to achieve those goals.—Agencies