On Tuesday, despite fighting just once in 2015, WBC Silver welterweight champion, Amir Khan, was named the mandatory challenger to the winner of the vacant WBC World welterweight title fight between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero.
The WBA’s refusal to sanction the bout for their “super title,” paved the way for the WBC to approve the bout for their world title, one of the belts recently vacated by the now retired Floyd Mayweather.
If Garcia (31-0, 18 KO’s) prevails on Jan. 23, it would signify a rematch between the 27-year-old and Khan (31-3, 19 KO’s), who he fought in a super-lightweight unification bout in July 2012, which ultimately ended in a fourth-round stoppage for ‘Swift.’
Garcia, who went on to defend his WBA and WBC belts four more times before fighting in two catch-weights, at 142 and 143 lbs. respectively, made his debut at the full welterweight limit of 147 lbs., last August, against ex-champion Paulie Malignaggi, who he stopped inside nine rounds.
Guerrero (33-3, 18 KO’s) has won world titles in two different weight classes. Although he is credited for having one of the biggest hearts the sport has seen in recent years, two of his last four fights have ended with disappointing results.
One of those included a controversial split decision victory against Aron Martinez last June, which left some to wonder if Guerrero’s best days were behind him.
The announcement of the Garcia fight, in November, has only led more to question whether he is deserving of such a shot.
On the other hand, the boxing game has handed us many surprises over the years, and Guerrero is more than capable of turning the odds in his favor.
Khan, who last defeated ex-super-lightweight champion Chris Algieri, last April, is not yet scheduled to return to the ring in 2016.
Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his interest in a summer showdown at Wembley Stadium in London between his fighter, IBF World welterweight champion Kell Brook, and Khan.
However, Hearn’s father, Barry, the founder of Matchroom Sport, has recently gone on to say that Khan has been impossible to deal with because of his support of unrealistic ideas.
With that being said, the inactivity of Khan could be in for an extension, until the fight with the winner of Garcia-Guerrero.
– Ryan O’Hara / @OHaraSports
Leave a Reply