Many of boxing?s most influential figures believe the 25-year-old from Bolton has the talent and charisma to be viewed by Americans in the same bracket as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, but he must underline that here in the American city of politics and culture against hometown challenger Lamont Peterson.
There is so much more than just his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles on the line.
Rival promoters Oscar de la Hoya and Bob Arum, veteran promoter Don Chargin and trainer Freddie Roach concur that Amir Khan could be soon be a household name in America.
?Depending on this performance, I?d be happy to put Amir in against Floyd Mayweather next May, if the option presents itself. I really do think he is ready,? De la Hoya said.
That?s a major call. The US market place is suffering from a dearth of natural homegrown stars. Khan could stamp his name, alongside unbeaten light-middleweight Saul Alvarez, a flame-haired Mexican, as the new talent.
