Khan plotting 'easy' title route

Amir Khan has admitted that taking on Andriy Kotelnik was his quickest and easiest route to a world title.

Khan will fight Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight belt at the O2 Arena in London on June 27.

He will now head back to the United States and join Manny Pacquiao in camp as the Filipino prepares to tackle Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

Khan, who will then work one-on-one with Roach for the June 27 fight, told the Steve Bunce Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News that he was carefully picking his opponents.

He explained: “I wouldn’t fight someone like [Juan Manuel] Marquez at this moment in time because he’s at his peak and I haven’t hit my peak yet.

“I want to have a few more fights before I fight someone like him.”

Kotelnik, the WBA light-welterweight champion, has a record of 31 wins and one draw from 34 fights. The last time he was in Britain he beat Gavin Rees by knockout.

And Khan explained: “He’s not the best of the world champions, but it’s an easier route to a world title. I don’t want to have to wait a year for a title shot.

“I’m going to beat Kotelnik and I’m going to beat him convincingly. It’s not just about winning the fight, it’s about winning in a good style and a good fashion, proving to people that I beat him clearly.”

Bolton-born Khan also revealed he has designs on becoming a two-weight world champion.

He added: “If I win the title, then I’d like to defend it a couple of times and then move back down to lightweight for one fight and then come back up.

“It’s good – I could be a two-weight world champion in the matter of a year, a year and a half.”