ESPN staff
Amir Khan's first venture onto American soil proved to be a positive one as he defended his WBA light-welterweight title with an impressive stoppage win over Paulie Malignaggi.
There was bad blood in the run up to the fight with both camps trading insults, but once the action unfolded at Madison Square Garden - Khan showed a thoroughly professional attitude to dismantle Malignaggi.
Malignaggi made positive talk about having too much speed for Khan, but he had badly underestimated the Bolton man who dominated the centre of the ring behind a blistering jab that bewildered the American.
Khan picked Malignaggi off on a couple of occasions in the first round but the American's unorthodox nature briefly threatened to upset Khan in the second and third rounds. There was a suggestion that Khan was getting frustrated but the fight turned from the moment he landed a couple of solid shots in the fourth.
It was evident from the fifth onwards that Khan was the superior fighter as time and again crisp punches snapped in on Malignaggi's head. The New Yorker has been in with some excellent fighters and has proved his durability, but he had no answer to the speed and boxing skills of Khan.
The doctor took a close look at Malignaggi at the end of the 10th and it looked at one stage as though he would be pulled out. He was allowed to carry on but the fight did not go much further as the referee stepped in with over with 1.35 left in the round.
Ricky Hatton stopped Malignaggi in the 11th but Khan's job on the American was far from impressive as he proved he can mix it with some of the big players in the division.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
Source: espn.co.uk
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