Khan to face Salita

October 06, 2009

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Amir Khan

AMIR Khan will make the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against New York-based Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita on December 5 in Newcastle.

Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed the Bolton 22-year-old, who won the title from another Ukrainian in Andreas Kotelnik in July, will meet the unbeaten Salita at the Metro Radio Arena.

Salita, 27, is the WBA mandatory challenger and a highly-credible first defence for 2004 Olympic silver-medalist Khan.

“For Amir’s first defence this is a very tough fight for him and he’s taking on a fighter that the American media are really building up at the moment,” said Warren.

“Salita’s got a great record, he’s unbeaten and carries a big punch and of course he will pose a threat to Amir, but Amir’s a world-class fighter and has to deal with these challengers.

“I’ve promoted a lot of shows in Newcastle with all the big names like Naz (Naseem Hamed), Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and Nigel Benn and I’m delighted to bring Amir to the city for the first time.

“The public there are big sports fans and love the big events and it’s great to bring them a fight like Khan v Salita.”

Salita, who was born in Odessa but moved to New York aged nine, has a record of 30 wins - 16 inside the distance - and a draw. Only one of his fights, in Puerto Rico in 2003, has been outside the United States.

What do you think? Have your say.

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AngryMcNasty, Manchester (28/09/2009 at 19:11)

How can Salita be the mandatory challenger when Maidana in the interim champion?

Could this shuffle have anything to do with the fact that Salita is relatively feather fisted and doesnt have anywhere near the dig of Maidana?

Another shrewed move by Mr. Warren - but Khan is going to have to fight someone dangerous sooner or later!

Hands of Stone, Southside (28/09/2009 at 23:47)

Angry - Do you notice how you don't have narrow minded idiots trying to cause factions within the MANCHESTER boxing community by coming out with idiotic coments like this is the best night for Asian boxing in 15 years, blah blah blahhhh

No one cares whos English, irish, Asian, Black etc except you

PatBlackFlash (29/09/2009 at 13:33)

This is a great fight for Khan. Its good that he is giving the Mandatory a chance, which is something Ricky Hatton never did (despite getting HIS OWN chance by being mandatory for Kostya Tyszu).

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (29/09/2009 at 15:27)

Hands of Stone, you seem to have a massive problem with fighters "Irishness" - I've never once mentioned anything about asain or black fighters. However, unless you are living in an igloo then you will know that Khan often speaks on behalf or and its held up as an excellent role model for Asain Britain!

PatBlackFlash, how can Salita be the mandatory challenger when Maidana is the interim champion!?

Hands of Stone, Southside (29/09/2009 at 22:22)

Angry - the point is no 'fans' come on here and start stirring up factions and groups and clicks within the MANCHESTER boxing scene apart from you? Why do you want to do that?
I have no problem with no-one except you and your kind: I am in fact Scottish Italian.

All you do is harp on about 'irish' fighters when half the people you mention are NOT irish?
As I've mentioned previously this is the MANCHESTER evening news and MANCHESTER is a melting pot for many different people from many different backgrounds, but we're all MANCS. All you appear to want to do is cause factions within the MANCHESTER boxing scene and there is just no need for it at all mate - maybe that was just the way you were brought up, but I and others do not like or welcome it, so stop going on with yourself, you narrow minded fool.

redfred, manchester (30/09/2009 at 09:24)

somebody please let me have salita record to date his he good,bad,notbad,?????

sportcity kid, eastlands (30/09/2009 at 17:42)

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=51096&cat=boxer

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (30/09/2009 at 19:33)

Hands of Stone,

I think its you that are the one that is a "narrow minded fool". You think that because I and these boxers are proud of being Irish or of their Irish hertitage that I am some how "stirring up factions".

The sounds like the logic of a BNP member! People should be able to be proud of where they and their family comes from and not be worried if bigots will kick off. As you say "MANCHESTER is a melting pot for many different people from many different backgrounds" - and we can all be proud of our countries of birth and ethnicity! In fact it should be celebrated - it is an ignorant stance to take that states that celebrating your own ethnicity automatically rejects others - its doesnt!

As an Irish Manc I love to see other Irish Mancs do well - they bring pride to our community - but that doesnt mean I dont also support Asain Mancs, Black Mancs or any other!

Grow up!

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (30/09/2009 at 21:17)

redfred, Salita's record is extremely padded. He is unbeaten but has never fought any decent fighters.

Hands of Stone, Southside (30/09/2009 at 22:26)

Angrymcnasty - He's that irish, he was born in england, his dad is English, he lives in England and he wasn't alowed to box for ireland cos he couldn't prove any irsihness at all - you plank!!!

You lads don't half have spuds on the shoulders.

Hands of Stone, Southside (01/10/2009 at 10:46)

oh right angry and what about white English Mancs? Probably not hey???

Prob a celtic fan are we? i think we know wht your politics are mate: how can you call me a bnp member for pointing out that he is NOT irish? You're a mug mate, a total mug!

AngryMcNasty, Manchester (01/10/2009 at 14:05)

Hands of Stone, you are just showing yourself up as a bigot now to be honest. I suppose any that hasnt a Union Jack wrapped around them and ignores their own heritage is a "plank" then eh!

Grow up - people should be allowed be proud of their heritage without idiots like you having a go at them. Ask Gomez, Macklin, Moore or Fury if they are Irish or not - I think their answer should hold a little more weight then what your bigoted opinion does!

Sweet dreams!

bluejon71 (07/10/2009 at 07:59)

can we knock the race arguments on the head now lads? back to boxing talk? Seems to me like this fight smacks of business as usual for Khan and Warren. Of course Warren talks a good fight and the gullible will watch and be wowed by another spectacular destruction of an unbeaten fighter but his pre fight assessment of, "Salita’s got a great record, he’s unbeaten and carries a big punch and of course he will pose a threat to Amir" could'nt be further from the truth. On examining his record on Boxrec.com, i found that his record to be very ordinary, no names of note in his 30 fights. He is indeed unbeaten but with only 16 knockouts, i would hardly say he carries big punch, i also noticed, he has knocked down in the 1st against Frankel, who has only 4KO's on his record and twice in the 1st against Montel, who has only 2KO's on his record. Therefore Salita's chin is extremely suspect also. He's not really a threat at all and to be honest i feel yet again team Khan are duping the boxing public.

Hands of Stone, Southside (07/10/2009 at 09:21)

I like Amir and his Dad etc...but I think you are right Bluejohn: it is tantamount to being 'duped' and a lot of MUG punters (you know who you are) will fall for it over and over, lapping it up like a promoters/marketeers dream. It's not amir or Shah's fault and no-one can hardly blame them for the business strategy they employ to prolong and extend the 'product life cycle' that is Amir.
However, the general concensus on the ground level boxing scene is that it is a false position that he finds himself in and he is marketed, plugged, promoted etc for various other reasons. I can't say I wouldn't want to set my family and myself for life for generations to come. However, if he still has that true warrior spirit, surely he will tell warren that enough is eonough and he will want to test himself for real sooner or later - if not perhaps his fire has realy gone out?

redfred, manchester (07/10/2009 at 18:57)

thank you angrymcnasty for the information

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