No limits for Amir Khan after Garden party

Amir Khan is right on two counts: Kevin Mitchell can come back and getting the opponent right is the priority for Khan's next engagement.

I continue to be surprised by Khan, who put Paulie Malignaggi to bed at Madison Square Garden in a way that I least thought possible.

Khan prospered through classy attrition, wearing down Malignaggi before stopping him late on, something I thought beyond his style book.

He is improving so much in every direction that I believe light-welterweight is not the limit. He has the stature and the range to move up to welterweight, and maybe beyond.

That's for the future.

Right now he needs to continue to establish himself at 140lbs, that means a bout in July in England against the right opponent.

I wouldn't like to risk him against Devon Alexander or Timothy Bradley. Neither would I invite Michael Katsidis to jump up from lightweight.

Khan has already been accused of fighting smaller men in the early part of his career. Katsidis was terrific last week against Mitchell (above), but is not the right opponent for Khan.

The time is right to tie up Marcos Maidana, a dangerous puncher but crude. What I love about Khan is his work ethic, his pace, his strength and intensity.

In all those facets of preparation he is right up there with his Wild Card stablemate Manny Pacquiao. Experience is the only attribute missing, hence my caution.