Khan to fight WBC champion Garcia in July

Thursday, 24 May 2012 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Former champion Amir Khan will fight undefeated American light-welterweight Danny Garcia on July 14 for the WBC title.

The Briton’s rematch against Lamont Peterson, scheduled for May 19, was called off after Peterson, who beat Khan in controversial circumstances to win the WBA super-lightweight and IBF light-welterweight titles, failed a drugs test.

Peterson has appealed against his failed drugs test and Khan is still waiting to find out whether or not he will be given back the belts he lost in the defeat.

Should that happen, or the titles be declared vacant, Khan’s fight against Garcia, which will take place in Los Angleses or Las Vegas according to Khan, could be a unification contest.

“It’s a good fight for me, Danny Garcia is unbeaten in 23 fights and has 14 knockouts so it will be a tough test for me,” the 25-year-old Khan told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

“It’s a great match-up, the WBC title will be on the line which I’d love to win. We don’t know what’s going to happen to the other two titles at the moment because the hearing will be in the next couple of weeks and then the govening bodies will make their decision.”

Khan said he was still frustrated at being deprived a chance to avenge his December defeat by Peterson, who was awarded a split-decision after Khan was docked two points.

“I’m still angry because I trained so hard for that fight in the Phillipines and LA then in the last week it was called off and all my training went down the drain,” Khan, who has lost just twice in 28 fights, said.

“I’m still upset because I wanted to win my titltes back and settle the score.”

Philadelphia-based Garcia, 24, took the WBC title when he beat Erik Morales on points in Houston in March.