Amir Khan has signed a three-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing – and returns to action on April 21 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.
The former unified Light-Welterweight World champion and GB Olympic silver medal man is back in the ring following a successful appearance on reality show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’, and now Khan is focused on ruling the world once more – starting on Merseyside in April.
Khan’s last outing was back in May 2016 when he stepped up to Middleweight to face Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and the 31 year old is back on Sky Sports for the first time since beating Devon Alexander in Las Vegas in December 2014 and a first fight in England since beating Julio Diaz in Sheffield in April 2013 – with the popular Bolton man determined to get back into World title action as soon as he can, with an opponent for April 21 to be announced soon.
“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Matchroom,” said Khan. “This decision is not one I’ve taken lightly, as I’m at a hugely important time in my career, but having spoken to Eddie at length, it was clear he and I were on the same page in terms of what I want to be doing and what I still want to achieve. I’m determined to win another World Championship and I’m confident I’ve got the right team behind me to help me do so.
“Just as important a factor was the opportunity to fight in the UK for the first time in seven years, and to do so with the support of the British fans and Sky Sports behind me. British boxing is in such a good place and I genuinely can’t wait to get back in that ring with the incredible home support behind me.
“I’ve been out of the ring for too long, and I’m desperate to make up for lost time, starting in April.”
Khan teams up with Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn, and his new promoter setting out the plan to land huge fights for Khan.
“I am delighted to welcome former unified World Champion Amir Khan to the Matchroom Boxing and Sky Sports Boxing team,” said Hearn. “Amir is one of the biggest names in the sport of boxing and his return on April 21 will be the first time he has boxed in the UK in seven years.
“The plan is to box in April and then again in August or September in preparation for a super fight in Winter 2018. The target is to provide him with the biggest fights possible with a mouth-watering list of names including the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman and Errol Spence. I’m excited to get started and looking forward to a huge night of boxing on April 21.”
An announcement on ticket on-sale dates will be made soon.
KHAN TIPPED TO FIGHT BROOK IN HIS RETURN BOUT
Fresh from stealing strawberries in the I’m A Celeb jungle, Amir Khan announced his return to boxing today, with bookmakers quickly making Kell Brook odds on favourite to be his next opponent.
Signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, Khan will step back into the ring on 21st April, with Paddy Power pricing Brook at 1/4 to face the Bolton boxer first.
Should the fight go ahead, Brook is tipped to claim victory (8/11) with the chances of a Khan win rated at 13/10.
But, the bookmakers still fancy Khan making a return to the summit of his weight division at some point, offering odds of 1/2 for him to once again become world champion.
Other possible first opponents for the 31-year-old include Adrien Broner (3/1) and the man who beat Brook in his last fight, Errol Spence Jr (40/1).
And with a fight having already been called off for April 2017, punters can get odds of 50/1 that Khan will finally face Manny Pacquiao, even if it is a year later than anticipated.
Conor McGregor is another outside chance to step back inside the squared circle – The Notorious is also priced at 50/1 to be Khan’s first opponent.
Spokesman Paddy Power said: “While we’d all love to see Khan get knocked out by Iain Lee as payback for the way he betrayed him in I’m A Celeb, it looks like we’ll have to settle for Kell Brook instead.
“With a McGregor fight also an option, losing to the UFC star might be even more embarrassing than dressing up in a giant cat suit in the middle of the Australian jungle.”
AMIR KHAN’S FIRST OPPONENT:
Kell Brook 1/4
Adrien Broner 3/1
Errol Spence Jr 40/1
Manny Pacquiao 50/1
Conor McGregor 50/1