• Boxing

Amir Khan to fight Marcos Maidana

ESPN staff
January 19, 2010
Amir Khan has signed with Golden Boy Promotions © Getty Images
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The World Boxing Association has confirmed on its website that a 'tentative agreement' has been reached for a fight between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana. Khan had been expected to vacate his light welterweight title rather than accept the mandatory defence against the Argentinian interim champion.

The match-up, which will determine who holds the belt outright, is expected to take place in March or April 2010 - with Manchester and Las Vegas mooted as possible venues.

Khan signed with Golden Boy promotions, who also have Maidana on their roster, over the weekend. Upon signing the Bolton-born fighter, Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya hinted at an imminent American bout, perhaps offering a clue about the contest's location.

"We are extremely excited to team with Khan Promotions and look forward to introducing Amir to fight fans in the United States and around the world," he said.

Khan defeated Andreas Kotelnik to take the WBA belt in July, before retaining it with a first-round stoppage of Dmitriy Salita in December. Since a humiliating 51-second defeat against Breidis Prescott in September 2008, the only loss of his career, Khan's reputation has grown under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach.

Roach was reported to consider Maidana too dangerous a fighter for Khan to face; the 26-year-old has a 26-1 record and a reputation for being a powerful counter-puncher with heavy hands.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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