By John F. McKenna (McJack): Former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) will lay it all on the line when he faces WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia (23-0, 14 KO’s). Khan and Garcia will clash at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night.

Khan is anxious to get back into the ring after his rematch with Lamont Peterson, which had been scheduled for May 19, was cancelled because Peterson tested positive for a banned substance in April. Khan lost his IBF and WBA title belts to Peterson last December in a match that was rife with controversy. It was later revealed that Lamont had used the banned substance prior to his match with Khan.

Garcia won the WBC title belt when he defeated ageing veteran Erik “El Terrible” Morales. To his credit Garcia did not attempt to duck Khan and stepped up when he received the opportunity to take on the 2004 Athens silver medalist.

Khan took a couple of weeks off from training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym after his rematch with Peterson was cancelled and returned to his hometown in Bolton, England. Amir soon returned however for a short stint at Manny Pacquiao’s training camp in the Philippines. Khan then resumed training at the Wild Card Gym to make his final preparation for the Garcia fight.

Amir’s performance in the Peterson fight was far from spectacular and to some extent Khan feels that he can vindicate himself with an impressive showing against Garcia. It was thought at the time of the Peterson fight that Amir had lost his focus and was preoccupied with potentially bigger fights down the road. In any case many boxing observers feel that the fight was far closer than it should have been for Khan.

It is also thought by many that Khan ignored his trainer Freddie Roach’s admonition of not fighting on the ropes. Peterson was able to wear Amir down in the earlier rounds with his body punching. When Khan attempted to fight from the center of the ring later in the fight his energy was sapped.

Khan believes that his extended training camp will benefit him in preparing for Garcia and states that it has allowed him to work on some new things.