by James Slater – Former WBC light-welterweight champion Junior “The Hitter” Witter has an advantage over most people when it comes to picking a winner from the upcoming June 27th WBA 140-pound title clash between defending champion Andriy Kotelnik of Ukraine and challenger Amir Khan of Great Britain – as he has been in the ring with Kotelnik..
Back in July of 2005, whilst defending his European light-welterweight title, Witter scored a close but unanimous decision over the 31-year-old. An astute follower of the fight game, Witter knows all about Khan as well. So, who does he pick to win in June? The former champ picks Kotelnik to win, and he picks him to do so by a KO or stoppage at that.
There is little doubt the fight is a big gamble for the 22-year-old former Olympian, just as Khan’s fight against Marco Antonio Barrera was a risky bout for him to take. Khan won against “The Baby Faced Assassin,” but according to Witter he will lose this roll of the dice.
Speaking with Setanta Sports News recently, Junior gave his prediction for the upcoming fight.
“I think he’ll [Khan] get beat quite convincingly,” Witter stated. “It’d be good for British boxing if he can do it but, realistically, he’s been knocked out by a decent puncher at lightweight and now he’s moving up to light-welterweight, where people are bigger and hit harder.
“Kotelnik is not a one-punch specialist but he’s very accurate and is good at his job. He studies opponents, finds weaknesses and exploits it. Amir Khan’s weak spot is his chin.”
There is no doubt Khan’s chin is something all fans and experts look at as extremely vulnerable, and Witter is correct when he says fighters hit harder up at 140 compared to down at 135. However, some believe that Khan’s weak chin was caused, at least partially, due to his struggling to make 135-pounds. Now that he will not have to lose as much weight to fight, maybe his chin will hold up better. Also, Khan will also be stronger and a harder hitter up at light-welter himself.
Still, Witter is sure Kotelnik will stop Khan at some point, though he says it may take the champion a while to get his man out of there.
“I think he’ll have difficulty for the first three rounds getting to Amir, but then [I see him] knocking him out somewhere around the middle [of the fight],” Witter said.
If Junior’s prediction is right, Khan may have a very tough time coming back. Yes, he will have lost to a very good world champion, but to have been KO’s twice will perhaps prove disastrous for his marketability.
It’s been said before, but this fight really is make or break for Amir Khan.