 On 9 July 2005, Kotelnik challenged European light-welterweight champion Junior Witter, but lost via UD.In his next fight, on 26 November 2005, Kotelnik defeated Muhammad Abdullaev via UD to win back the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light-welterweight title, as well as the vacant WBO Asia Pacific light-welterweight title.A rematch against M'baye on 30 March 2007, this time with M'baye's WBA light-welterweight world title on the line, ended in a split draw.