Khan to challenge for world title

Amir Khan will get his first chance at a world title on 27 June when he fights WBA light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik in Britain.

The 22-year-old from Bolton defeated Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their lightweight contest in Manchester last month.

But he will move up a division to take on Germany-based Ukrainian Kotelnik at an as-yet undecided venue.

"To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight is fantastic," said Khan.

"This is the best news that I could have received. Frank (Warren, promoter) has done a great job getting the world title fight for me in Britain and now I have to go out and win it."I've seen Kotelnik a few times and I've always been impressed by him but once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him it's my job to execute it on the night, as I did effectively against Barrera."

Following his knockout defeat by Breidis Prescott last September, Khan's hopes of a world title fight seemed a distant hope.

However, the performance against Barrera, which saw him win courtesy of a fifth-round technical stoppage, has put him back on track.

Most of his campaigning until now has been in the lightweight division where he won the Commonwealth, WBO and WBA intercontinental titles but he beat Rachid Drilzane for the IBF intercontinental light-welterweight title in December 2006 in London.Kotelnik, who won Olympic lightweight silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney, four years before Khan did the same in Athens, has fought in Britain three times previously.

His first fight, in 2005, saw him beaten by Junior Witter in a European light-welterweight title fight.

In 2007 he held then WBA World Champion Souleymane M'Baye to a draw and last year he beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA crown.

Promoter Warren said: "This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I'm delighted to deliver him the opportunity.

"Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik, who is a good hard fighter."

This is the great chance for both the fans of Amir Khan and Barrera to see them in a blood-spattered boxing fighting. Amir Khan V Andreas Kotelnik boxing tickets are available