Boxing: Khaliq's grim victory gives little chance of US title tilt

It took Jawaid Khaliq 12 grim rounds to retain his International Boxing Organisation welterweight title on points and end the unbeaten record of yet another anonymous former Soviet boxer, Roman Dzuman, from Ukraine, on Saturday at the Nottingham Leisure Centre.

When it was over, Khaliq was just a step closer to boxing's land of promises and the type of respectable fight that most of Britain's 23 world champions are searching for during a disturbing transition period for the domestic sport.

Khaliq's promoters announced after the fight that he is now in line for a challenge against American Vernon Forrest, the world's leading welterweight champion. The claim is just the latest to link a good British fighter with one of the world's best, and it has become a bit of a weary joke because the fights never happen.

There are, however, several fantastic fights for Khaliq to prove that he is the best welterweight in Britain before pursuing somebody of Forrest's class. He could meet the British champion Neil Sinclair or the Commonwealth champion James Hare.

A series of fights at welterweight involving Hare, Khaliq and Sinclair, none of whom mean anything on the international circuit, could initiate a renaissance in domestic fights that the business so badly needs. There are probably 50 quality domestic fights that would benefit the sport, but they are unlikely to take place because of rival promoters and over-protected boxers.

Khaliq will be back in the ring in the new year but it will not be Sinclair, Hare or Forrest in the opposite corner. Rather Khaliq, in his fifth title defence, will be defending his title against an Eastern European for the fourth time. It may be good business, but it is not very good entertainment at a time when the public's interest in boxing is at a dreadful low.

* Erik Morales beat Paulie Ayala on an unanimous points decision in Las Vegas to win the vacant World Boxing Council featherweight title.