In what has become quite the grudge match, WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan will meet up with interim champion Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 11th. The fascinating blend of styles from the two fighters has gone hand in hand with a nearly year-long war of words and everything will come to a head this winter.
Earlier today in London the two fighters came face to face in an official press conference to announce the contest. Maidana has had some unpleasant remarks about Khan in recent times, claiming that the British star has been avoiding him, and Amir seemed to fully recognize the situation at hand.
<--- Slideshow: Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana face off in London
?Maidana has been doing a lot of talking and he?s talked his way into a fight now,? Khan said exuding confidence. ?Unfortunately for him, his mouth isn?t going to help him in the ring and I?m going to prove to him that I?m on another level on December 11th.?
Lofty words from Khan, who has reason to be self-assured as his combination of speed, power and boxing fluidity make him a threat to anyone near 140 pounds. But in Maidana he is facing a brute puncher, as the Argentinean will surely be banking on a knockout victory under the bright lights of Nevada when these two collide.
?Khan?s been running from me for a long time, but the running stops on December 11th,? Maidana declared. ?I?ll show him how a champion acts and fights when we get into the ring in Las Vegas.?
Khan suffered a terrible knockout loss to Breidis Prescott in September of 2008 but has flourished since linking up with trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym. He is coming off of a resounding 11th round TKO over Paulie Malignaggi this past May at the Theatre in Madison Square Garden.
Maidana?s 2010 campaign has seen him halt Dominican Victor Cayo in six wild rounds at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas before struggling to pull out a decision win over former champion DeMarcus Corley last month. Maidana?s lone loss was a split nod to former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik in February of last year and he also holds a knockout victory over Victor Ortiz.
For picture from today?s presser please continue to the slideshow at the top left of the page?
