SportingLife:

Khan/Salita set for Newcastle

Amir Khan will make the first defence of his world title against Dmitriy Salita at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday December 5.

Khan, who won the WBA light-welterweight belt in July by outpointing Andreas Kotelnik, faces a tricky first defence.

Promoter Frank Warren said: "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.

"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."

He added: "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, the mandatory challenger for Khan's title, was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, when he was nine years old. He is an observant Jew and strictly follows Jewish law so if he fights on a Saturday then it must begin after sundown, the end of the sabbath.

He famously said: "Anyone who wants a good whuppin' from me is just going to have to wait until sundown."

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I actually think its a semi-credible first defence, a lot better than a lot of WBO defences we've seen ont hese shores in the past and a mandatory, but lets do away with the bullshit eh Fwank?

If this is on Sky Box Office then they can look forward to another ~40k audience.

dulais valley, actually I did remember the American media talking about them quite a bit, and he is 30-0.... not sure about his punching power though.

I remember him being "talked up" about two years ago when there was the possibility that he would fight Hatton. Since then he has done nothing with his career and I've hardly heard him mentioned. And a 30-0-1 record means nothing when you've fought nobody of ability - he's never been in with a good fighter. Reminds me of Roman Greenberg. As to his punching power - roughly 50% KO ratio against very poor opposition, declining as he has "stepped up".

...would have rather have seen khan maidana...

I read that that fight has to happen within either 60 or 90 days of the Salita fight.

lovely, khan in with an actual puncher

doesn't matter. khan's chin is such that paulie malignaggi could land a clean shot and it'd be like getting caught by david tua.

i think it remains clear that if willie limond can have khan in serious bother then dimitry salita could knock him spark out.

yeah but the thing is maidana punches like he wants to hurt you, not like he can hurt you...

fair point. khan can never prove his chin. the only thing he can prove is willingness to get in with big punchers and use his defensive know-how to win.

I firmly believe Salita ruins Khan

Barrera connected with a few good shots, as did Kotelnik. Perhaps Khan's ability to prepare himself for the punches has improved?

Khan-Salita, so boring,.. Urrgghhh