By James Slater – It’s just one in a number of great fights that can be made today in the talent-rich 140-pound weight class, but for some reason Amir Khan Vs. Marcos Maidana has captured the attention of the fans more than any other. For months now, the lethal banger from Argentina, who holds the interim version of the WBA light-welterweight title, has been “chasing” Khan, the full WBA champ, and the fans have been right there with him..
Is Khan scared or facing the once-beaten (never stopped) slugger, or have he and his team wisely allowed the fight to build and build? Well, it seems we will get our answer soon. Because, as has been reported on the site with all the breaking news, ESPN.com, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer has this week sent an offer to Khan to take his mandatory defence in December. If Khan accepts (Maidana has screamed for this fight for so long, it’s a virtual no-brainer he will sign the contract; wherever the fight is to take place), Schaefer says the fight will go ahead on December 11th – in either Las Vegas or Detroit.
So, Khan won’t be fighting the big name he promised his U.K fans over here in his homeland. No matter, fans everywhere will tune in for this fight, no matter what time of day or night it kicks off at. And this fight really will kick off in style when it happens! Sure to be an action fight, with hunter Maidana gunning for boxer/puncher Khan right from the get-go, fans will be in for a fascinating battle. IF Khan signs the offer Schaefer has sent him.
Detroit is one of the two possible venues to host the fight because, apparently, The Motor City has a sizeable Muslim population, and with Khan being of that faith, he’s sure to attract a pretty big crowd. To my way of thinking, though, Las Vegas is where this fight should happen. Khan himself has always dreamt of headlining a big card in Fight Town, and it’s safe to say a big under-card will be added to this fight if it happens. Golden Boy have been putting on some pretty stacked cards recently, and Khan will find it mighty tempting to agree to top their next available one.
If, however, Khan does, for whatever reason, reject Schaefer’s offer to fight Maidana in December, fans everywhere are sure to come out gunning for him. Simply put, Khan has nowhere else to go – unless he is willing to lose a ton of credibility. Maidana aside, who else is there Khan could face in December? All the top names are busy with fights of their own, and besides that, Maidana has been waiting the longest time for his shot at the former Olympian. Does Khan want to get stripped?
The ball is in Khan’s court, but there seems to be just one direction he can hit it in! For my money, Khan-Maidana WILL get made. Khan, despite what his critics say, does have genuine fighter’s pride.