MANILA – Newly crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Amir Khan from Britain is relishing his first world title.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” said the 22-year-old fighter as quoted by Gareth Davies of Telegraph.co.uk.

Khan won over Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik by unanimous decision Saturday at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England (Sunday in Manila). The judges’ scores were 120-108, 118-111 and 118-111 in his favor.

He then gave credit to Roach, saying that his coach was “very crucial.”

“I listened to him and also Manny Pacquiao, what a great inspiration he is for making me win this fight – the sparring with him, the working out,” he said.

“Just talking to Manny Pacquiao took me to a different level,” Khan said of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

He continued, “I kept asking Freddie ‘Is everything going okay?’ and Freddie said ‘Yeah, stick to the game plan and keep concentrating’ and that’s what I did.”

According to Roach, “Even when he was a little tired in 11 and 12 he sucked it up and fought on and fought hard.”

Khan also thanked his promoter, Frank Warren, who in turn said that the British boxer has “learned a lot out there with Freddie, there’s no doubt about that. His defense is much better. He took a couple of shots but that’s what happens in boxing.”

“I was really impressed with his composure, the way he went about his job,” remarked Warren.

As a 17-year-old, Khan was a lightweight silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He also outclassed seven-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera last March via a fifth round technical decision.

“I’m sure we’ve got some big fights in the future coming up,” added Khan.

Hatton as next foe?

Roach, meanwhile, told Sky Box Office of a possible match-up between Khan and fellow Briton Ricky Hatton.

“We'll probably defend this somewhere down the line, maybe Ricky Hatton down the line,” said Roach who was quoted by SkySports.com.

Hatton has not yet decided on his career following his second round knock out defeat to Pacquiao last May 2.

“If he decides to continue I am sure he'd want to fight again for a 140-pound title and it'd be a big fight here in England, so I am sure it could happen,” said Roach.

Meantime, Roach assured that his ward will continue to improve. He thought that Khan “fought his best fight yet and we're going to get better from here on out.”

“I think he's learning how to fight the guys that pressure him, although I thought we gave too much respect to Kotelnik,” he added.

“And there were certain moments when we could've backed him up because he struggled a bit when we did - but overall for a young man of 22, he's doing fine,” declared Roach.