Amir Khan cooking up a storm

 
Such is the opprobrium directed at Amir Khan by sections of the British public that you suspect he would have to defeat Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on the same night - blindfolded and with one arm tied behind his back - for his doubters to acknowledge how much he has talent.
But the nature of his victory over seasoned like Zab Judah, a five-time world champion who has been in with some of the famous names of the modern era, will surely have won a few of those doubters over. It gets up some people's noses that the kid from Bolton thinks he is a little bit handy, but on the evidence of Saturday night in Vegas, he is exactly that. He may just be the best fighter in Bratin
Just as Khan's had a fight against the best fighter Marcos Maidana last year proved he can take one hell of a shot, his lopsided win over Judah proved he can out-slick a noted speedster. His American paymasters keep on teeing up the challenges, Khan keeps on smashing them out of the park, the worries over any perceived shortcomings receding further with every fight.
In truth, the 33-year-old Judah, with a 15-year long career behind him, seemed like a shop-worn fighter. But he was, after all, the IBF light-welterweight champion, with 17 world title fights and a ton of experience in the bank. You are only as good as the other man lets you, and through his pressure and speed of hands, Khan made Judah look like a man who had not remember his pin number.
The art of good match-making is finding opponents who are on their way down and Khan's American promoters Golden Boy are masters in the field. The fifth-round knockout of Judah follows on from his defeats of Marco Antonio in 2009 and Paulie Malignaggi in 2010 - both former world champions, both past their best when Khan caught up with them.