UK bout preferred for Amir Khan’s April outing

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

Picture by Emilio Sanchez

Bolton fighter eager for homecoming

WBN have been informed that Amir Khan is hoping to fight in the United Kingdom for the first time in two years, when the former world light-welterweight champion makes his next appearance in the ring this coming April.

The 26 year-old, who crushed American Carlos Molina in Los Angeles last weekend, is looking into the possibility of staging a warm-up fight for a rematch with world champion Danny Garcia somewhere in the UK.

‘King’ Khan last fought on British soil when stopping Irishman Paul McCloskey in six rounds at the Manchester Arena in April 2011 and his since had mixed fortunes when fighting in three states across the Atlantic. A coronation night against Zab Judah in July last year was followed up by back-to-back losses to Lamont Peterson and Garcia, with Khan possibly intent on avenging both losses at some stage in the next eighteen months.

The Olympic silver medallist believes he has just six fights left in him before retirement at the age of 29, and hopes to crown his career with a clash against pound for pound superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015.

There will be no shortage of potential opponents for a high-profile contest on home soil, with the bout almost certain to be at 140lbs as Khan plots a route to take back the world title from rival Garcia later this year.

If Khan is looking for an opponent with UK ties, then a rematch with McCloskey would come into the frame, along with an England v Scotland clash against former and current world champions Alex Arthur and Ricky Burns.

An outsider would be the boxer who pushed Garcia to a close split decision, Ashley Theophane – whilst a revenge mission against Breidis Prescott is never far from the mind of Khan supporters, who would love to see him overturn the spectacular knockout defeat in 2008.

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