By John F. McKenna (McJack): Amir Khan’s (26-1, 18 KO’s) training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood paid off big time Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas as he totally dismantled the tentative former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Light Welterweight Champion Zab Judah.

Khan added Judah’s IBF Light Welterweight title to his WBA Light Welterweight title as he put on a masterful performance knocking Judah out in the 5th round.

Amir used his height advantage 5’10” to Judah’s 5’7” combined with his speed to dominate Zab from the first round on. He used a rapier like left jab combined with uppercuts on the inside. Judah was never really in the fight and appeared to be at a loss as how to cope with his younger and faster opponent.

As early as the 4th round it became a question as to how long Judah could survive against Khan, who gradually began increasing the pressure. Judah’s trainer Pernell Whitaker continually exhorted his charge to show more of an offense, but his words fell on deaf ears, as Zab retreated further into a shell. Judah was unable to launch any type of counter offensive to slow down Amir.

When the end came Khan landed a hard right to Judah’s head followed by a right uppercut to the beltline, a legal punch. Judah immediately went to the floor and made no effort to arise as the referee counted him out. When questioned immediately after the fight, Zab claimed that it was a low blow that felled him and that he thought the referee was giving him an eight count to allow him time to recover. He said he was surprised when the count reached ten and the referee said that the fight was over. Replays after the fight clearly show that the blow landed on the belt line of Judah’s trunks.

Khan said after the fight that the punch was one that he and trainer Roach had worked on during training. He carried out the game plan that Roach had set out for him to perfection.
Roach had stated earlier in the week that he thought Khan would be the best Pound for Pound fighter in the world within two years.

Judah at this point will have to make a decision as to whether it is worth it to continue his career. He obviously has talent, but has repeatedly come up short against top competition.

As for Britain’s pride and joy Amir Khan, there appears to be no limit as to how far he can go in boxing. Roach’s assessment that he will eventually be the best fighter in boxing is not all that far fetched.