Amir Khan - Zab Judah: Prediction for Tonight's Fight (Boxing)

Non-heavyweight divisions have proven to be the more entertaining and more competitive of the boxing divisions over the years.

Saturday night in Las Vegas will be another example of two top-quality boxers squaring off in what should be a competitive fight.

Amir Khan (25-1, 17KO) puts his light welterweight title on the line against Zab Judah (41-6, 28 KO) in what might be a tune up fight for a December battle with Erik Morales (51-7, 35KO) in which Khan is expected to move up to the welterweight division.

Khan, born in Bolton, England, might also have an upcoming battle with perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world: Floyd Mayweather.

Make no mistake, Khan has a lot riding on beating two very good boxers in Judah and Morales if he expects the big payday that will come from a potential bout with Mayweather.

Khan can't take Judah lightly. The Brooklyn-born veteran boxer has 49 fights under his belt, and is a very smart fighter. The 33-year-old is an accurate puncher, has extremely fast hands, and has deceptive power. Judah also has a better chin than many give him credit for. He has been through grueling matches in the past, and has weathered many storms when it looked like he was too fatigued to continue.

If there is a knock on Judah, it's that he has failed to defeat a big-name boxer in quite some time. Though he has won his last five fights, Judah hasn't defeated a high-profile boxer since Cory Spinks in 2005.

As for Khan, questions remain about his chin after the memorable fight against Marcos Maidana. In the bout, Maidana battered Khan, and looked like a victory was in the Argentine's grasp.

Khan, however, has to be considered among the most promising boxers in the sport based on his multiple tools. The 24-year-old probably has the fastest hands in boxing, and is one of the best conditioned boxers alive. Instead of relying on one big punch, Khan wears down opponents with multiple hard shots. Khan's greatest asset might be his energy, as well as his stamina, which might be the key to a fight that will probably go the distance.

His only loss was a 54-second knockout by Breidis Prescott in 2008.

Oddmakers have Khan as the 5-1 favorite. He is more than two inches taller than Judah, but the two fighters have the same reach (72 inches.)

It will be interesting to see how Khan fights in Las Vegas, and not in the UK where most of his fights have taken place. His only fight in the city was against Maidana.

PREDICTION: Judah will give Khan a far better fight than many anticipated. Judah will use his speed to land a few hard right hands that will hurt Khan, and should win plenty of rounds because of this. However, Khan fights back and does damage of his own. He counterpunches Judah with solid combinations, and cuts Judah, who has been through plenty of bloody fights.

HOW IT ENDS: Khan wins in a split decision.