Amir Khan v Steffy Bull
Amir Khan v Steffy Bull
The 20-year-old from Bolton was barely troubled by his experienced opponent and a barrage of unanswered blows dumped Bull to the deck and ended the contest after one minute 45 seconds of the round.
But following a flash 55-second victory last time out, Khan had plenty of opportunities to showcase his dazzling hand-speed in a bout broadcast free to air across the Atlantic.
Among those surely impressed by Khan’s performance, which extended his unbeaten record to 12 fights, was former five-time world champion Sugar Ray Leonard who watched at ringside.
Doncaster veteran Bull, who boasted a 24-4-1 record, had come out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight and might have been expected to put up more sterling resistance.
The 29-year-old even acquired the nickname ‘Supersonic’ for the evening, but it gave him no advantage when faced with the blurring fists of Khan.
Mindful of his massive audience, Khan was dressed to impress in spangly black shorts and immediately surged onto the offensive, cracking a left hook into his opponent’s ribs.
Understandably, the experienced Bull appeared nervous and spent virtually all of the first round on the back foot, earning a brief respite when Khan was penalised for a low blow.
Two left hands right on the bell hurt Bull, who was also clearly winded by a crunching right to his body early in the second as he pulled up a tight guard and stayed very much in survival mode.
Khan had more success early in the third when he backed Bull against the ropes and jolted his head back with a right hand. It was the beginning of the end for Bull, whose resistance crumbled.
Khan quickly moved Bull back against the ropes where a flurry including two ripping body shots dumped his opponent to the canvas. Bull beat the count, but referee Marcus McDonnell waved the contest off.
Khan was happy with his performance, telling ITV: “It was a good fight and I take away some experience. I’ve been in the ring for three rounds. I put my hands higher and I didn’t rush.
“He was an experienced lad and I had to move and pick my shots. I had to get him slowly. I couldn’t rush him.”
Khan unleashed a punishing body shot towards the end of the fight and added: “I have been practising the body shots. I’m making that shot better and better.”
He insisted he is already the “best lightweight in Britain” and predicted that “very soon” he would be the best lightweight in the world.
But promoter Frank Warren, clearly determined not to rush things, said: “He’s getting there but he’s got a while before he gets to the world.
“It was a great performance from Amir and he will definitely have a title fight in July now.”
