British Boxers work it out Khan + fight + July = Prescott

Khan contemplates next opponent. pic by Sean Keating

∑ KHAN + FIGHT + JULY = PRESCOTT 2

WBA world light welterweight champion Amir Khan is taking time to relax in his home town with family and friends, since arriving back on home soil, after his stoppage defeat over Paulie Malignaggi in New York last month, regaining his title.

In between getting followed around by a CNN camera crew, for a documentary they are making on him, he has also found time to do interviews, guest appearances, and when he is not perfecting his swing at the local driving range, he was lacing up the boots to take part in a charity football match last week.

Football is another love of the sporting Khan, and he is a big fan of his local Premiership team Bolton wanderers and goes to the games when he is at home. Khan talks about his team Bolton Wanderers video!

Khan takes part in a charity football match, he is a big bolton Wanderers fan. pic by Sean Keating

Who does he fight next? Khan has said this week, that he wants to fight the best in his division starting on the 31st July in England, and has asked Golden Boy, his promotion company to get him either WBA light -welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana or WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis next.

“There are a few names,” the 23-year-old told The Bolton News. “There’s Katsidis, who knocked out Kevin Mitchell and there’s Casamayor and he knocked out Katsidis.

“It’s about getting the timing right. I’ll fight anyone to be honest but a lot of guys in my category are busy. Those are the two names we’re looking at, but I’ll leave it up to my team.”

But Katsidis’ trainer, Brendon Smith, says Khan will want to avoid the 29-year-old, who lost to Casamayor in March 2008.

“I really don’t see it happening,” said Smith. “This is a very risky fight for Amir and one they would not take at this stage.

“There was an opportunity for the two to fight in Amir’s US debut, but it was turned down by Freddie Roach (Khan’s trainer) and instead Paulie Malignaggi was chosen.

“I’ve spoken to Richard Scheafer (CEO of Golden Boy, Khan’s promoters) who likes the idea and would like to do a fight with Katsidis and Khan.

“There is no better fight in England than Amir Khan versus Michael Katsidis.

“But can the fight be made? I don’t think so.”

Whether it is Katsidis or Casamayor, Khan is desperate to fight again in the UK before Ramadan in August.

He said: “I want to fight the last weekend of July. It’ll be in the UK and we’re looking at the North West or London.

“I want to give my fans the chance to see me fight here.”

Marcos Maidana has back trouble!

Maidana though looks like he will not make the July date though now, due to a constant back injury that as seen a fight with him and WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley fall through for the same month.

Katsidis is not likely to take the fight with Khan that soon according to his management team, and still has business to attend to at lightweight, after cementing himself as the best, if not the most exciting fighter in that division, by stopping Londoner Kevin Mitchell last time out in the 3rd round – and there are rumours that Katsidis could defend against British and European light-weight champion, the unbeaten John Murray from Manchester.

Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley the other champions in the division, and names being touted are off the July radar, after agreeing to other fights. Alexandra will defend against Khan ‘s old foe Andreas Kotelnik on the 7th August, and Bradley will fight unbeaten Argentine Luis Carlos Abregu on the 17th July

Former WBC lightweight champion, Cuban exile Joel Casamayor 38, who beat Michael Katsidis in 2008, is said to be right at the top of the list as an opponent for the home coming fight of Khan, and someone available and willing for one last shot at a title.

The fight against Maidana will not happen for Khan by July though, because Maidana has a bad back injury and it’s doubtful his back will have had enough time to heal, in order to start training for the 31st July, which is a pencilled in date and when Khan wants to fight again.

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 06: B...

Breidis Prescott

But the name still on every ones tongues when speaking about Khan, is his nemeses and former conqueror Breidis Prescott, who knocked Khan out inside a round, nearly two years ago.

Prescott’s career unfortunately dive bombed after that shock win over Khan, and the potential he shown in that fight and prior to that night, has somewhat diminished with two wins and two losses, one loss notably against Kevin Mitchell.

It is a little bazaar the way the cards have been dealt for Khan and Prescott since that night in the Manchester M.E.N in September 2008, when the little fancied Colombian knocked Khan out in cold calculated fashion, that he has since failed to produce.

Khan as we know has rebuilt his career and gone on to remain undefeated, since, he moved up in weight and won the championship of the world and as just defended it in the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square garden in the main event against home town New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi.

Prescott was on the under card to that fight in the Garden, taking part earlier in the night in an 8 rounder, against journey man American Jason Davis – Prescott scored a stoppage in the 3rd round, giving the Golden Boy matchmakers a ganders’ first hand at the rangy hot and cold Prescott.

Khan with the New York cops

It will be a crime if Khan doesn’t get to fight Prescott again. pic by Sean Keating

Golden Boy had suggested that Prescott could have been a possibility in being considered for a rematch with Khan, but having lost a fight and then getting beaten by Mitchell, his stock had dropped a little. – But in the eyes of the boxing fan’s, and the pages of the record books, and cold reality, he is the man who beat Amir Khan, and beat him very convincingly!

So forget the other names being brandished about on the probables list, the only names on it that look like being able to attend an end of July, summer scrap in Manchester with Khan are Joel Casamayor, who at 38, is way past his best, and wouldn’t win Khan many slaps on the back, – and then theirs that man Bredis Prescott.

The 31st July 2010, back in the Manchester M.E.N, is the ideal date and venue to finally put to bed and wipe out, the only loss on his record. Amir must Demand that fight with his promoters, before it eventually becomes too late – They have to make it happen! and give him the chance to do what many fighters have found it mentally essential to do, lay the doubts and the ghosts to rest – Like fellow Brit Lennox Lewis, who although he got beat by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, beat both in rematches, to defeat every man he ever faced.

Prescott will see this also as a way to prove last time wasn’t a fluke, and a nice little pay day, he deserves it! if not for his previous win, then for the fact that he made Khan reevaluate his career, hire Freddy Roach as his new trainer, and become a better fighter for it.

The politics? Will the WBA sanction a fight for Prescott against there champion? coming off his last fights? but if they do, and we over look the fact that Prescott has lost since, it is a fight the British fans will defiantly watch, and if Golden Boy did a good enough job in promoting Khan in the States last time out, then the American fans will be tuning in too.

Golden Boy, pick up the phone tell Prescott he is fighting in July against a familiar face, Amir Khan!

By Chris Maylett for www.britishboxers.co.uk

No1 FOR BRITISH BOXING FIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY www.p4pphotos.ifp3com Sean Keating

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