Amir Khan became a world champion on Saturday night just 10 months after suffering a devastating knockout defeat by unknown Colombian Breidis Prescott.

The 22-year-old from Bolton took the WBA light-welterweight title with a slick unanimous points victory over Ukrainian champion Andreas Kotelnik at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

Khan dominated from start to finish with impressive combinations and footwork, even answering some questions about his chin along the way.

His victory completes an impressive turnaround after his world title dreams appeared to be shattered less than a year ago.

At the same venue in September last year Khan was blown away in less than a minute by heavy underdog Prescott in one of the biggest shocks in British boxing.

But the 2004 Olympic silver medalist now describes that defeat as a turning point in his career, prompting him to switch trainers and throw caution to the wind - culminating in a dramatic victory over Marco Antonio Barrera in March and tonight's acquisition of a portion of the world title.

Fighting at the 10-stone light-welterweight limit for the first time, Khan started the fight brightly. His jab was working particularly well, though Kotelnik managed to find occasional openings in the second round.

On the early evidence, Khan could have boxed his way to an easy win but instead he was typically aggressive, giving Kotelnik unnecessary opportunities.

Khan continued his domination in the fourth but had to stand up to a heavy right hand by the increasingly adventurous Kotelnik.

By the fifth round Khan was embroiled in a war, superior for the most part but taking a chopping right and moments later a stiff left hook.

Kotelnik, with a record going into the fight of 31-2-1 (13KOs) was repeatedly swallowing Khan's rapid jab but the champion continued to fire back on the counter.

Khan was clearly winning the fight despite his vulnerable defence, and a hard left counter by Kotelnik in the seventh tested the Lancastrian's supposedly suspect chin.

At times Khan's defensive reflexes were superb, however, and after avoiding a Kotelnik attack nicely in the eighth he fired back with a solid four-punch combination.

Kotelnik knew he needed a knockout but it was Khan who looked most dangerous, landing a left followed by an excellent right in the 10th which was perhaps his best shot of the fight.

Khan continued to needlessly get involved in a fight in the last two rounds and took a heavy right in the opening seconds of the 12th.

However, the silky Briton navigated his way safely to the final bell to take a thoroughly deserved points win with scores of 120-108 and 118-111 twice and capture his first world honours.

Prescott, meanwhile, lost to Miguel Vazquez on a split decision in Las Vegas on Friday night - despite flooring his opponent in the first round.