Khan must fight Garcia to regain belt after Peterson is stripped of title
Earn it: Amir Khan must fight for the belt
Amir Khan will fight Danny Garcia for the WBA light-welterweight title on July 14 after drugs-cheat Lamont Peterson was stripped of the belt.
Khan faces WBC champion Garcia at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas next month in what will now be a unification bout.
The Bolton fighter’s grudge rematch with Peterson was called off after the American tested positive for synthetic testosterone, having had pellets injected into his hip to help with a reported deficiency.
Peterson won Khan’s WBA and IBF belts in their first meeting last December but the Brit’s camp has repeatedly made calls for the titles to be vacated.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said letters had been sent to the WBA and IBF requesting that the sanctioning organizations ‘rule the fight a no-contest’, and, asking ‘the IBF and the WBA to re-instate Amir Khan as their champion.’
‘I’ve gotten verbal confirmation that the WBA is going to have Amir fight for the WBA title, so that’s that,’ he told RingTV.com.
Getting ready: Khan in training
‘As it relates to the WBC, we already know that the fight is also going to be for the WBC title, so their fight will definitely be for two belts.’
The IBF is yet to make decision on whether to strip Peterson of their belt and are unlikely to so until they have examined his medical records.
Despite the revelations, Khan insists he remains keen to meet Peterson in the ring again – if he can prove he is clean.
‘I would love to, because at the end of the day, it was a great fight, a great fight for the fans,’ he told East Side Boxing.
Scrapped: Khan's rematch with Lamont Peterson (left)
‘I would love to fight Lamont Peterson again – if he is off steroids. But if he is still on them, he is a threat to my career and to my life.
‘Other than that, if it’s going to be fair and he’s not going to take anything, it will be an easy win for us.
‘I think that’s what kept him in the fight for so long, because if he was not on anything, I think I would have stopped him in a couple of rounds.
‘It shows that it helps an opponent when you take banned substances.’
- Louis van Gaal makes reporters laugh after praising Depay
- Boxer Wladimir Klitschko working out with Vitali in the ring
- Klopp thinks Liverpool can do better despite thrashing City
- Luis Enrique: Bernabéu win a memorable one for Barca fans
- Footballer has a wee behind goal, while 10 man team score!
- Aston Villa's Jack Grealish enjoys boozy night out at...
- Emotional tribute to Paris victims before El Classico
- Aaron Ramsey is ring leader in Arsenal training rondo!
- Behind the scenes of Lionel Messi's return at the Bernabeu
- Rambo's return! Ramsey trains as Arsenal prepare for Dinamo
- Manny Pacquiao visits famous Garden Tomb site in Jerusalem
- Klitschko brothers trade blows as Wladimir trains for Fury
- Liverpool and Manchester City players reunite to attend...
- Arsenal aren't consistent, Chelsea are the disaster story of...
- Karim Benzema the only member of Real Madrid first team to...
- Conor McGregor leaves for Las Vegas as coach claims he will...
- Jose Mourinho: 'I don't enjoy other people losing...
- How Jurgen Klopp has slapped Liverpool into shape with...
- Manchester United stars celebrate win over Watford with...
- After Liverpool schooled Manchester City on Saturday, boss...
- Real Madrid were torn apart by Barcelona... so what next for...
- Anthony Martial's wife left red-faced after mistaking...
- Aaron Ramsey back in training but Arsenal still face injury...
- Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin could be out of action...