By Rob Smith: Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) believes that WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia (23-0, 14 KO’s) lacks the experience needed for him to be fighting a guy like Khan at this early stage in his career. Khan and the 24-year-old Garcia will be meeting up on July 14th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Garcia is Khan’s Plan B opponent after his previously scheduled rematch with IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson fizzled out after Peterson’s positive test for synthetic testosterone recently. Khan and his promoters at Golden Boy searched around and were able to get Garcia to agree to face Khan. It’s still unknown if Khan will be getting one or both of his titles back from Peterson by having them stripped from him. Khan wants the titles back, although he’ll only keep them for the Garcia fight and then give them up when Khan moves up in weight to the welterweight division.
Khan told the Dailymail.co.uk “I think it’s a bit early for him to be fighting me but him being a world champion, I think it’ll be a good fight.”
Khan sounds as if he’s coming from up high. Khan is only a year older and he’s only been fighting quality opposition since he was 24, so it’s about the same thing. Garcia is 24 now and it makes sense for him to be fighting Khan at this time. Khan started out with Andriy Kotelnik when he was 24, and that was an easy fight because Kotelnik didn’t have much power to trouble Khan. Where Khan ran into problems was his fight against Marcos Maidana two years ago where Khan was badly in the 10th round. Khan ran for most of the fight and is lucky that he won that fight. A lot of boxing fans think Khan would have been knocked out had referee Joe Cortez not separated the two fighters repeatedly in the 10th and 11th rounds when Maidana was going for the KO in close.
Garcia has the style to beat Khan as long as he’s able to catch up to him. Khan will be shooting combinations and then moving. As long as Garcia can catch up to him without being pushed like Khan was doing with Peterson, Garcia should have a good chance of winning.