03.12.07 – By Matthew Hurley: British Commonwealth lightweight champion Amir Khan, 14-0 with 11 KOs continues his rapid progression when he takes on Graham Earl, 25-2 with 12 KOs on December 8th at the Bolton Arena in Lancashire. Graham, the former Commonwealth champion is looking to regain his belt against the highly touted Olympic silver medalist.
Khan, who last fought in October stopping Scott Lawton in the fourth round, is hoping to position himself for a title shot in late 2008. In July he received a hearty welcome to the grit of the professional ranks when Willie Limond knocked him down. Khan eventually won in the eighth round. Graham is hoping to pick up and finish what Limond started. He’s also hoping to pick up the pieces of his own career that were tossed to the canvas courtesy of Michael Katsidis in the fifth round back in February.
“There are a lot of things I’ve been working on,” Graham told reporter Iain Axon from his training camp in Florida. “It’s been good over here and I really feel ready for Khan. Obviously there’s been a bit of a gap since I lost to Michael Katsidis, but I’ve never fought every month or six weeks as a professional. I’ve had the rest that I needed and now I’ve come back fitter and stronger.”
As for Khan he professes a healthy respect for his rugged challenger. “I’ve been sparring with bigger guys, doing a lot of strength work because I know Graham will be strong. He’s the number one lightweight in the country and I’m number two, and I want to beat him to prove I’m the best, it’s that simple.”
On December 15th streaking Kronk protégé Andy Lee, 13-0 with 10 KOs will take on Jason McKay, 18-1 with 5 KOs for the vacant Irish super middleweight belt at National Stadium in Dublin. The bout marks the first title fight for Lee, whom Kronk impresario Emanuel Steward is convinced will become a world champion.
“It’s a big fight for me,” Lee was quoted by Fightbeat.com as saying. “I’ll be fighting for the Irish title and headlining a card at home for the first time. I think it’s a great fight and hopefully another step on the ladder to where I want to get.”
His opponent feels that Lee’s vaunted punching power is somewhat overrated and that his opposition has been lacking in quality.
“With the greatest of respect to some of his opponents, they weren’t there to win, they were there to survive. I’ll be there to win, you can be sure of that and with my experience let’s see how he likes it when he’s asked some serious questions in the later rounds.”
On the undercard Eugene Heagney, 6-0 will take on Colin Moffett, 7-11-4 with 2 KOs in a rematch for the Irish bantamweight title. Heagney beat Moffett on a close decision in July in what was a spirited bout.