The Scotsman

Khan eyes world title shot after 39-second knockout

- By LIAM BLACKBURN

Another world title shot is one of Amir Khan’s chief priorities following his blistering comeback performanc­e in Liverpool when he knocked out Phil Lo Greco in just 39 seconds.

After a two-year hiatus, during which he appeared on reality television series I’m A Celebrity...get Me Out Of Here!, Khan stepped back into the ring on Saturday night and emerged with a swift first-round victory after sending Lo Greco to the canvas twice.

While not much could be gleaned from those 39 seconds, it was evident that Khan still possessed the hand speed and movement that once made him a world champion, and he hopes it can do so again.

An all-british showdown with Kell Brook, one that has been mooted for a long time, is an option but Khan is also desperate to claim a belt at welterweig­ht.

“The 147lb division is amazing,” the 31-year-old Bolton-born fighter said. “Making 147 is not a problem. There’s some huge names – [Keith] Thurman, [Errol] Spence [Jr] – there are world titles to be won in the welterweig­ht division. I’d like to fight [Adrien] Broner.

“Boxing’s a business and Kell’s a good fighter. He’s at 154, I’m still

0 Amir Khan: ‘At peak of career’ campaignin­g at 147. Maybe at catchweigh­t then the fight’s going to happen.

“I want to win a world title at 147 first before I start going up. I feel at the peak of my career.”

Carl Frampton remains on track for a world title fight at Windsor Park this summer after outpointin­g the dangerous Nonito Donaire at Belfast’s SSE Arena.

The Northern Irishman is eyeing another shot at a featherwei­ght crown, with WBO titlist Oscar Valdez on his radar as well as the winner of next month’s fight between IBF beltholder Lee Selby and Josh Warrington.

Frampton pushed his cause with a commanding display againstfor­merfour-weightworl­d champion Donaire, who gave his opponent a couple of scares but largely came off second best.

All three judges scored the contest 117-111 – or nine rounds to three – as Frampton earned the interim WBO featherwei­ght title.

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