Light-welterweight

Khan facing visa fight to make Mayweather bout

ESPN staff

September 11, 2014

Amir Khan was due to be ringside in Las Vegas for Mayweather-Maidana © Getty Images

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Amir Khan is facing a battle to be granted a United States visa to allow him to attend the rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Marcos Maidana on Saturday.

Khan has designs on becoming one of Mayweather's next opponents should the unbeaten American claim a second consecutive win over Maidana.

The former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion had his visa accepted last week, but was not allowed to board his flight to Las Vegas from Manchester on Thursday. Khan previously faced visa issues in 2010 ahead of his fight against Paulie Malignaggi, where he was forced to train in Vancouver rather than Freddie Roach's Los Angeles-based boxing gym although it was later resolved.

Visa to America was declined after i had it approved a week ago. Was looking forward to the fight. Means I'm still in England.
— Amir Khan (@AmirKingKhan) September 11, 2014

Reports suggest Khan's lawyers are hoping to resolve the issue in time for Khan to still be at ringside at the MGM Grand on Saturday night.

Ironically, it means Khan could join his other potential opponent next year, Kell Brook, in being unable to get to Las Vegas for Mayweather-Maidana as initially intended. Brook is recovering from a stab wound sustained while on holiday in Tenerife.

Eddie Hearn, Brook's promoter, confirmed talks over the all-British Khan-Brook bout were "going well" last week, claiming it could be as big as the Froch-Groves II, which attracted a crowd of 80,000 at Wembley last May.