AMIR Khan believes he may only be 12 months away from challenging to become the best boxer on the planet after stopping Zab Judah to claim a second world title.

The Bolton boxer added the IBF belt to his WBA title after needing only five rounds to defeat 33-year-old Judah, a former five-time champion, in a light-welterweight unification bout at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay hotel.

Khan has his sights set on becoming the best pound-forpound boxer in the world – an accolade that eluded Ricky Hatton during his career – and is growing ever more confident that he is on course to realise his dream after the weekend’s impressive display. “My ultimate aims are going up in the poundfor- pound rankings and one day being the best pound for pound in the world,” said Khan, who floored Judah with a body shot to end the fight – with the New Yorker claiming in vain that it was a low blow.

“That’s every fighter’s ambition and I’ve still got a lot of improving to do.

“I’m only 24 and I don’t want to rush anything but I think in the next 12 months I’ll be close to that title.

“Zab Judah was very awkward and I’d say he’s one of the quickest I’ve faced. I didn’t say it before the fight but I’m a big fan of Zab Judah. I used to watch his fights and I’m still a big fan. It was an honour for me to be in the same ring as him. He’s a huge name. In my eyes it was a clean shot that won the fight, it was right on the belt.

“I’m the IBF and WBA champion now and we just keep collecting titles, that’s what we want to do.”

Khan dominated every round of the bout and is now set to fight one last time at lightwelterweight in December, most likely in America, before moving up in weight next year.

Khan’s team may try again to arrange a bout with Tim Bradley, the holder of the other two belts at 140lbs, and are also considering Erik Morales and Robert Guerrero – with rematches against Marcos Maidana and Breidis Prescott outside options.

Khan is keen to fight Floyd Mayweather but admits he is not ready to take on the legendary American just yet.

“I’m still a fight or two away from fighting Mayweather,” he said. “It’s all about timing. By the time I’m 25 I can maybe have a fight at 147 pounds and see where we go from there. But it’s a fight I could see happening in 2012. It’s a huge fight and a fight that will drive me on.

“Now I’m going to have one month off, it’s Ramadan and then I’m going to Mecca for my pilgrimage. There’s a few opponents I’d like to face in my next fight. We’ll look at the list and go from there.”