Khan overpowers Malignaggi in 11th

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Amir Khan had spent 10 rounds working over former titleholder Paulie Malignaggi, his crisp right hands and blazing speed flustering the hometown challenger.

He could have coasted the rest of the way and earned a unanimous decision, but that’s not why he came to the United States. Khan wanted to make a splash in the loaded 140-pound division, and his trainer Freddie Roach understood what that would take.

“I remember going back to the corner in round 10, and Freddie said, ’Go and send a statement to the world and send this guy off,’ ” Khan said. “And I sent him off.”

Khan wound up stopping Malignaggi midway through the 11th at Madison Square Garden, the victory made all the more impressive considering the opposition. Malignaggi has had title belts strapped around his waist, has fought some of the best in the world, and the only time he didn’t make it to the end of a fight was against Ricky Hatton — and even then he probably could have.

This time, Malignaggi simply tapped his chest after referee Steve Smoger stepped between the fighters, acknowledging what everyone in the arena also understood: Khan has star potential.

“I give him credit for staying mentally strong, because sometimes fighters, when they’re young, they start getting frustrated when they miss punches,” Malignaggi said. “He’s got to stay fighting like that, because when guys get older they start throwing less punches.

“He’s already at a world championship level.”

Khan has been ticketed for stardom since winning the silver medal at the Athens Olympics when he was just 17 years old, and few people jumped off the bandwagon when he succumbed to a one-punch knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott two years ago.