By James Slater – WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has already begun training for his July 23rd bout, even though he is not yet sure who it is he will be fighting. As fans know, a fight between Khan and WBC/WBO 140-pound ruler Timothy Bradley fell through, leaving the Brit with a short list of alternative opponents to choose from.
This list was made up of Zab Judah (a fight Khan is said to be disinterested in as he feels Zab is a “runner”), Erik Morales (who has a planned July 30th date against a TBA in Las Vegas and according to Khan turned down an offer to fight him), Robert Guerrero (who is currently a lightweight) and Marcos Maidana (Khan’s mandatory and also a former rival)..
Well, according to Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy in talking with Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, the list has shortened some, with Morales and Judah now “most likely” to land the July date with Khan. Things could change once again and Guerrero may get the fight after all, but Schaefer says he hopes to be able to make an official announcement this Friday; with “El Terrible” and “Super Judah” being the leading candidates.
Of the two I would personally prefer to see IBF champ Judah land the fight. A unification is always good for the sport and, contrary to Khan’s “runner” statement, Judah is an exciting fighter; one who is on a roll right now. Morales showed he still has something left in his close losing fight with Maidana, but he looked very slow at times, especially in the early rounds. Khan, to my mind, would have way too much speed and flash for the ageing Mexican great.
But will Khan retract his comments regarding Judah’s style; of how Zab will be “unwilling to fight?” Zab read what Khan had to say about him and was understandably angry. Judah also stated, however, how he looks at a fight with the young Khan as something of a step backwards. Can these two now be expected to agree to get it on?
Money will no doubt talk, as it usually does. And where else does Judah have to go in the immediate months? The Brooklyn southpaw wants a shot at P-4-P king Manny Pacquiao (who doesn’t!), but Pac-Man is now almost certainly going to be facing former rival Juan Manuel Marquez next, in a November rubber-match.
Despite what the two rival 140-pound champions have had to say about one another, a Khan-Judah fight makes sense. Look for Schaefer, having realised this, to announce the match-up as a go soon.
Who will win if Judah and Khan fight? That’s what makes the fight so intriguing: it could go either way.