Kotelnik wary of unfair treatment
From BBC:
Andreas Kotelnik says he will need to be "three times stronger" than Amir Khan in order to retain his WBA light-welterweight title next month.
Kotelnik, 31, defends his crown against Khan at the O2 Arena on 27 June.
He claims he has been harshly treated in British rings in the past, including when losing his European title to Junior Witter in 2005.
"The fight with Witter was not a loss," he said. "I will have to be three times stronger to make sure I win."
Kotelnik also drew with Frenchman Souleymane M'Baye in Liverpool in 2007, when victory would have handed him the WBA title.
"Against M'Baye I was also in front, clearly in front," said Kotelnik. "But I don't think people have something against me in Great Britain. I am looking forward to getting a fair judgment."
Kotelnik finally captured the WBA title in his third visit to Britain in 2008, when he defeated Gavin Rees in Cardiff.
Kotelnik has twice defended his belt, against Japan's Norio Kimura and the previously undefeated Argentine Marcos Rene Maidana.
Bolton's Khan, who will be fighting for the first time at 140lb, has claimed Kotelnik is the "worst active world champion" on the circuit, but the champion is not fazed.
"I'm not an expert on Khan," Kotelnik said. "I know he is fast and that he has good reactions, but I'm also good in the ring and my boxing skills and technical skills are some of my weapons."
Khan, 22, has lost just once in 21 fights since turning professional. His one defeat was a one-round knockout against Colombia's Breidis Prescott in Manchester last year.
"I am always prepared to go 12 rounds," said Kotelnik. "But if there's a chance of a knockout I will knock him out, why not? This is not table tennis."
Andreas Kotelnik says he will need to be "three times stronger" than Amir Khan in order to retain his WBA light-welterweight title next month.
Kotelnik, 31, defends his crown against Khan at the O2 Arena on 27 June.
He claims he has been harshly treated in British rings in the past, including when losing his European title to Junior Witter in 2005.
"The fight with Witter was not a loss," he said. "I will have to be three times stronger to make sure I win."
Kotelnik also drew with Frenchman Souleymane M'Baye in Liverpool in 2007, when victory would have handed him the WBA title.
"Against M'Baye I was also in front, clearly in front," said Kotelnik. "But I don't think people have something against me in Great Britain. I am looking forward to getting a fair judgment."
Kotelnik finally captured the WBA title in his third visit to Britain in 2008, when he defeated Gavin Rees in Cardiff.
Kotelnik has twice defended his belt, against Japan's Norio Kimura and the previously undefeated Argentine Marcos Rene Maidana.
Bolton's Khan, who will be fighting for the first time at 140lb, has claimed Kotelnik is the "worst active world champion" on the circuit, but the champion is not fazed.
"I'm not an expert on Khan," Kotelnik said. "I know he is fast and that he has good reactions, but I'm also good in the ring and my boxing skills and technical skills are some of my weapons."
Khan, 22, has lost just once in 21 fights since turning professional. His one defeat was a one-round knockout against Colombia's Breidis Prescott in Manchester last year.
"I am always prepared to go 12 rounds," said Kotelnik. "But if there's a chance of a knockout I will knock him out, why not? This is not table tennis."
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