By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
The acquisition of Amir Khan’s signature by leading American boxing promoter Golden Boy as their newest asset, has major ramifications for the 22-year-old World Boxing Association 140lb champion from Bolton.
Significantly, Khan signing with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional company could herald ever nearer the prospect of a light-welterweight battle this year with Ricky Hatton. It always seemed unlikely while Frank Warren promoted Khan, given the history of acrimony between Warren and the Mancunian fighter, now also a promoter himself. That situation has changed completely now, however, with both fighters associated with leading US promoter Golden Boy and, pay-per-view giant Home Box Office.
It is not clear yet, but the move could signal the end, or at least a shift, in the six-year relationship Khan has made with Frank Warren, the British promoter having guided Khan from teenage Olympic silver medallist to world title belt holder.
However, a split from the Hertfordshire-based promoter appears likely after a statement from Golden Boy, based in California, announced "a strategic alliance" with Khan's own company, calling the fighter “one of the hottest champions in world boxing”.
Former world champion De La Hoya, Golden Boy president and founder, believes Khan is “one of the most talented fighters in the world at any weight” and sees the young fighter as “the face of boxing in the future”. Some testimony.
Yet question marks remain. The move in its entirety to the US would conflict with Khan’s assertions last December when he said, after defeating Brooklyn-based Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle, that he may alternate between contests in the US and the UK. And even Warren was promising Khan a contest across the pond in 2010.
Warren said last week he hoped Khan would not develop "amnesia" and forget the loyalty he himself showed when the youngster was knocked out last year. Nonetheless, this is clearly a move for Khan to launch himself fully in the United States, where he extremely highly-regarded within the boxing fraternity, and where his reputation has expanded in the last 15 months under master trainer Freddie Roach, in his Hollywood Wild Card Boxing Club. Khan also finds himself split down the middle in another rivalry, between Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao.
He will be promoted by the same camp as Mayweather, while training and sparring alongside and with Pacquiao.
Khan said: "I am really happy Khan Promotions is partnering with Golden Boy. Together they will be the right team to help me continue my career as an elite fighter and to expand my fan base to the United States and around the world.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
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