AMIR Khan realised his dream of becoming world champion with a stunning victory against Andreas Kotelnik.

The 22-year-old produced a boxing masterclass to win the WBA light-welterweight belt at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.

Khan defeated the Ukrainian unanimously on points to become the youngster British world champion since Naseem Hamed.

It caps a remarkable turnaround for the Bolton star, who less than 10 months ago was knocked out in just 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott at the same venue.

But Khan, now under the charge of American Freddie Roach, acknowledged as one of the best trainers in the world, is a very different boxer from the one that lay sprawled out on the canvas last September.

Khan, in just his 22nd second fight since turning professional, was just too fast for Kotelnik.

From the first bell, his speed and range of movement were too great for his 29-year-old opponent, who has never been stopped.

The onslaught continued throughout the next 12 rounds and, though Khan never really looked like stopping the Germany-based fighter and occasionally left himself open to some heavy shots from the champion, there was never any doubt of the outcome, with the judges’ scorecards - 120-8, 118-111, 118-111 - reflected the one-sided nature of the contest.

Khan’s next fight is expected to be in America in November.

Meanwhile, on the undercard, Enzo Maccarinelli's career looks to be over after he was badly beaten by unbeaten Russian Denis Lebedev in their clash for the vacant WBO intercontinental cruiserweight title.

The lacklustre Welshman, now based in Bolton, was stopped in the third round - the 28-year-old's third defeat in his last four fights.