Amir Khan?s knockout success in America is driving the market for David Haye?s proposed world heavyweight super fight with Wladimir Klitschko and for Joe Calzaghe?s threatened comeback for a return match with Bernard Hopkins.
British boxers are hot properties again after Khan?s highly acclaimed stoppage of Italian New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi in the weekend defence of his world light-welterweight title.
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, flies to London next week confident that, following the excitement generated by Khan here, he can clinch the Haye and Calzaghe deals.
Negotiations for Haye’s title unification grudge match with the younger of the two Klitschko brothers have been fraught from the onset and the urgency has waned a little as Britain?s WBC champion and his wife await the birth of a child.
But Schaefer says: ?Amir?s performance has given boxing a big buzz and made people remember that David can do the same. Haye versus one of the Klitschkos is the fight the heavyweight division needs.
?Wladimir and Vitali have been dominating for a while, but without really bringing the scene to life. David is the most thrilling heavyweight out there now and a fight between him and either of them can truly energise the division.
?I will be having talks in Europe to try to secure a sensible deal for everybody, because much as Haye wants these fights above all others the negotiations have to be fair. I firmly believe his fight with Wladimir will happen later this year.
?I also believe David will go on to beat both Klitschkos. They are methodical fighters and he will be too fast and original for them, even though they are bigger men.?
Schaefer was sitting ringside next to Hopkins, the multiple world champion and partner in Golden Boy, at the Khan fight. As well as being impressed by American?s first real viewing of the young man from Bolton, Hopkins reiterated his desire to avenge what he regarded as a dubious split decision against him when he first met Calzaghe.
The pride of Wales retired as undefeated world super-middleweight in 2008, vowing never to come back. Many will be hoping that he keeps that promise but two domestic break-ups and some heavy litigation have been a drain on his finances.
Consequently, Schaefer says: ?I will be meeting with Joe during my trip. Like Bernard, he has expressed interest in the rematch and I think we can get it on in the autumn.
?Bernard has other options, but this is the fight he really wants and I think it can happen.?
Schaefer will also be working to expedite a homecoming fight for Khan this summer. The probable location for late July is London?s O2 Arena, where Golden Boy are also planning a series of smaller events to develop younger British talents with a view to promoting them internationally.
Khan would appear to have opened an Aladdin?s Cave but his connections, including his family, will have to guard against burning him out.
Khan looked as fatigued as I have seen him at the conclusion of his 11th-round defeat of Malignaggi and was heavily marked up around the eyes and nose. He had boxed superbly to capture America?s imagination but master trainer Freddie Roach warned that he needs a rest. If the fight back in Britain goes ahead the opponent for that spectacle will have to be wisely chosen.
Roach points out that they would need a full nine weeks in training at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles to prepare for a title unification fight against any of the other alpha-belt holders.
