• Boxing

Khan confirms Malignaggi approach after Marquez withdraws

ESPN staff
February 11, 2010
Amir Khan is the WBA light-welterweight champion © Getty Images
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Amir Khan claims that he has a "very good" chance of fighting Paulie Malignaggi after confirming that Juan Manuel Marquez has refused his offer of a bout.

Since receiving news on Wednesday that the Mexican - whose trainer warned him against the Khan contest - has pulled out, the WBA light-welterweight champion has wasted no time in getting his promotion team Golden Boy to contact Malignaggi.

"We were looking at Marquez, who pulled out, so it's up to Malignaggi now and we want to hear what he thinks about the fight," Khan said. "Golden Boy have put the fight to his promoter Lou DiBella, so we will see where we go from here.

"I want to fight him in his home town [New York] and beat him in his home town in front of his own people. The fight has not been made 100% yet but I think there is a very good chance of it happening."

Despite re-affirming his previously-stated belief that Ricky Hatton should retire from boxing, Khan has established that he would accept a fight with the Mancunian if offered.

"I get a lot of questions from people asking when I am going to fight Ricky Hatton," he said. "Ricky is a friend of mine and if it was on the table, I'm one of those fighters who would grab it, I'd take the fight.

"But I really think that if I was Hatton, I'd call it a day. He has made his name in British boxing, so he should just relax. But if he wants to fight back, then Amir Khan is here as a world champion and I think it would be a big fight for British boxing."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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