Khan keen to build on first US win

Khan, 23, overcame visa problems and an enforced training camp in Vancouver as well as a bombardment of trash-talking from American challenger Paulie Malignaggi, to triumph at New York's Madison Square Garden Theatre.

In stopping the Brooklyn fighter, Bolton's 2004 Olympic silver medallist Khan retained his WBA light-welterweight belt in style and moved his professional record to 23-1 (17 KOs) with a performance that will have impressed American TV executives and fans alike.

"This makes me a better fighter, definitely," Khan said after referee Steve Smoger called a halt to the fight after 85 seconds of the 11th and penultimate round.

"At least I know what to expect now. It was my first one here and next time I'll definitely have the advantage of having been here.

"This was the first one and I know there were a lot of mistakes but I have to say, I know I can perform a lot better than this."

Khan's trainer Freddie Roach agreed with his fighter's assessment but was quick to praise his rising star. "It was a great performance," Roach said. "We knew the jab was the key to the fight and the jab set him up.

"I knew he had to make a statement and he went out and did exactly what I told him to do. Paulie was exactly what we thought he would be and he showed a lot of heart. But Amir followed his instructions very well."

Khan was full of praise for Roach, thanking the American Hall of Fame trainer for helping him overcome the difficulties he had encountered in the build-up to the Malignaggi contest.

"You could say I just about made it to the fight. I was in training camp then I had to go to Vancouver to get my visa and my visa took a long time and I had to move my training camp there.

"I was all over the place in a way and I had to stay mentally strong. Then I had to go back to LA and from LA to New York, so I was flying a lot and it did get to me but I was still training hard and I want to thank Freddie for flying over.

"The one thing about Freddie Roach is, no matter how big the guy is, or how big a coach he is, he loves his fighters. They're his kids and he was beside me all the way through. What I had to go through, Freddie went through with me and I want to thank him for that."

Khan also vowed to make it easier on himself in advance of his next US fight. He said: "It wasn't as easy as it looked. I was travelling all over and I got a visa for 23 days. It took me two weeks to get a visa for 23 days and it's one of those things. You live and learn and next time I'm going to do it well in advance."

Khan's promoters, Golden Boy, are keen to have their man back in an American ring to further enhance his reputation after a scintillating performance on his debut in front of the live HBO cameras.

Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said the Bolton boxer would next be in action in his homeland on 31 July before returning to the USA for his next fight.

Khan, bidding to fulfil his promise of unifying the 140lb division as its undisputed champion, said: "I'd love to fight in the US and I'd love to fight in the UK. I know how it feels and it's the best feeling, fighting in America. It's a dream come true and I'd love to go to Vegas and have a big fight there."

Discussing future opponents, Roach singled out Argentina's Marcos Maidana as his choice for his next fight. "Wherever that may be, America or the UK, it doesn't matter," he said. "That's the fight I want, that's the fight I know he can win. We've been accused of ducking him but that's bull. We'll fight him next, no problem."