Amir Khan has been forced to defend his WBA light welterweight title against mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana or vacate the title and his trainer Freddie Roach favours the latter.
Khan won the belt by a unanimous points decision over Andreas Kotelnik last year and defended it in December with a devastating first round knockout of Dmitriy Salita.
The World Boxing Association are now forcing Khan to put the title on the line against hard-hitting Argentinean Maidana, but Roach feels pitting Khan against the man who has knocked out 26 opponents in 27 victories may be a step too far for the Bolton boxer.
“It’s a business and it’s about the right fights at the right time. There are some good fights out there for Amir,” Roach told The Sun.
“He can outbox Maidana but he’s tough, a good puncher and you don’t want to exchange with him too much.”
The 26-year-old Maidana has only one loss on his record which came in a split decision against Khan victim Kotelnik in a failed attempt to take the title, but he is now looking to wrest it from the clutches of ‘King Khan’.
Khan, 23, has suffered several knockdowns in his career not to mention his first round knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott. This is the main concern for Team Khan who don’t want to throw their prot?g? in the ring again with another powerhouse like Maidana.
Should he vacate the title Khan would have to face some tough opponents to become world champion in his division again. The main title holders are unbeaten fighters Devon Alexander (19-0 12 KOs) and Timothy Bradley (25-0 11 KOs), Juan Urango (22-2 17 KOs) and stable mate and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2 38 KOs). Maybe Maidana isn’t such a bad option after all.
Last updated: 07 January 2010, 14:30
