• Light-welterweight

Khan plans April fight before Garcia rematch

Amir Khan has clarified his future by revealing he will return to the ring in April, before targeting a rematch with Danny Garcia later in 2013.

Khan had hinted earlier in the week that Garcia may be his next rival, if the 24-year-old beats Zab Judah in February. However, Khan will fight an alternative name in Spring, before attempting to lure Garcia into a rematch later in the year.

"The next fight is going to be around April time," Khan said. "That will give me a nice little break. Then I want to be back in the ring again and try for the rematch with Danny Garcia.

"In April I'm looking at it being a fight in the 140lbs division for a world title, and then at unifying it with the Garcia fight - if he gets through his fight with Zab Judah.

"Boxing is a sport where one punch can change a fight, but hopefully he wins that fight, I get through mine in April and then maybe at the end of the year it will be a good fight with him."

Khan is convinced it would not be a bad career move to rematch Garcia, despite the brutal beating he received in their first fight. In the Brit's eyes, Garcia was an easier target than recent victim Carlos Molina until one punch changed the bout.

"I was beating him (Garcia) convincingly and then got caught with a shot - I think I was beating him more easily for the first two or three rounds than I was Molina," Khan said.

"I believe in myself in that fight. I got caught by a shot I shouldn't have been caught by. Maybe I was too confident, thinking I was untouchable and that no-one could hurt me. But it is all about regrouping myself and I will be back stronger now."

It has been suggested that Josesito Lopez might be Khan's next opponent in April, although no confirmation has been made. Khan's overall target is still to earn a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, although he is less vocal about that scenario than in the past.

"One thing I have learned is not to rush or look too far ahead," Khan said. "It is an ambition to fight him - I want to fight the best in the world. But that fight is in the future - first of all I want to clean up the 140lbs division, then move up."

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