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De la Hoya hails Khan after 'fight of the decade'

Amir Khan proved he's got a chin against Marcos Maidana © Getty Images

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Oscar de la Hoya, founder of Golden Boy promotions, labelled Amir Khan's epic victory over Marcos Maidana the "fight of the decade" after a thrilling night in Las Vegas.

Khan claimed a narrow points victory after a WBA light-welterweight title showdown that swung one way and then the other. The Briton was dominant from the moment he dropped his opponent in the opening round, but Maidana battled back to come within a whisker of a stoppage in the 10th round.

Known as the heaviest puncher in the 140lb category, Maidana gave Khan's previously suspect chin a stern examination under the bright lights of Vegas, but Khan answered every question thrown at him in what ranks as the defining performance of his career to date.

"Khan tonight proved that, not only does he have a good chin, he's the best 140-pounder in the world. No doubt about it," De la Hoya said on Sky Sports. "It's the fight of the decade. Maidana wouldn't give up, right until the last second of this fight, Maidana was throwing bombs. Amir got hit by a truck in the 10th round, but he's still going. He did it for the UK."

Khan's speed and variety threatened an easy victory in the first half of the fight, with Maidana stunned by a huge body shot in the first round. However, by round 10 it was Khan on the ropes - quite literally - and the Bolton-born pugilist admits he got a little sloppy.

"I was getting caught with stupid shots but that's boxing," said Khan. "If you go into a shower you're gonna get wet. If you go into a boxing ring you're going to get hit. Maidana is a tough guy as everyone knows - he's beaten the best fighters in the division and now he's come up another class but just couldn't beat me."

Following his 54-second knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott in 2008, Khan has now proved beyond any doubt that he can withstand a barrage, and he confessed that was arguably the most satisfying factor of the fight.

"I'm sure everyone watching this fight thinks the same. I made a mistake in my past but I'm a different fighter now, training with Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza. I've come back stronger than ever. I was hit by his best shots and I was still there.

"Everyone knows he's a big puncher, he's a big hitter. I went in there, a lot of people say 'Amir has got no chin'. I proved that today - I got hit by his best shots and I came back stronger. I took his best shots and I still came back. At times I was hurt but I dug deep. That's boxing for you - that's why I sell out arenas and I'm such a great fighter. I fight with heart and I've got skill."

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