Amir Khan could not make good on his promise to knock out Adrian Pang, but that did not stop the young Singapore lion from looking like a seasoned veteran.
The 23-year-old Khan controlled the distance early, and often, en route to a unanimous decision win on Friday, 24 November. The victory came in the co-main event of ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which aired live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
In spite of the huge experience gap between the combatants, Khan looked very much equal to “The Hunter.” The Singaporean was the aggressor in the opening moments of the first stanza, mixing up high kicks and rangy jabs to keep the more compact Pang at bay. The Australian seized an opening, however, firing a flurry of punches to set up a clinch.
If Pang thought he owned the clinch, then he found out otherwise. Khan held his own against the cage, reversing the position as time ticked to a close in the first round.
The hometown hero put his striking on display early in the second round, clipping Pang in the first minute. In defiance, the Aussie stood near flat-footed, daring Khan to throw again.
After another tussle in the clinch, Khan obliged, tagging his nemesis flush on the chin with a powerful kick. Pang refused to back down, and his persistence was rewarded with a takedown late in the stanza.
Pang slowed considerably in the final frame, however, which allowed Khan to showcase his striking once again. As the final bell sounded, there was no doubt in the minds of the capacity Singapore crowd who would have his hand raised. All three judges awarded the contest to the local favorite.
Khan inches closer to title contention with a 9-2 record, and extends his win streak to six. The veteran Pang’s professional record falls to 22-11-2.
