By William Mackay: World Boxing Association light welterweight Amir Khan could be facing WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (25-0, 11 KO’s) next. According to boxing news from Live Fight, Khan’s promoter Frank Warren has reportedly contacted Bradley’s promoter Gary Shaw about a potential fight in early 2010. Shaw, who also promotes American Super Six tournament fighter Andre Dirrell, had this to say about Bradley fighting Khan:

“I would have no problem going over to England to fight in front of 40,000 screaming Brits. Amir Khan has been down once for the count [referring to Khan’s 1st round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last year in September]. I don’t think this is a hard fight for Timothy Bradley. I’m surprised that Frank Warren wants it, but we would do it.” That makes two people. Bradley is arguably the best fighter in the light welterweight division, and Khan would likely be in way over his head in this fight.

However, Khan wouldn’t be as much in danger against Bradley as he would in bouts against harder hitting light welterweights like Marcos Maidana and Victor Ortiz. But Bradley would still be a real threat to not only beat Khan, but knock him out in the process. Bradley, 26, easily defeated number #1 WBO light welterweight contender Lamont Peterson on Saturday night, beating him by lopsided scores of 118-110, 119-108 and 120-107.

Bradley showed power in that fight, knocking Peterson to the canvas with a chopping right hand in the 3rd round and hurting him on a number of occasions with right hands. Peterson was never even in the fight and despite being the harder puncher and pressuring Bradley throughout the 12 round bout, Peterson was entirely dominated for the full 12 rounds.

Khan would be asking a lot of himself by facing Bradley. It’s not so much that Khan is too young, because I can’t see Khan being good enough in four years to beat Bradley either, it’s just that Bradley is a better skilled fighter with ring smarts and a better chin to go along with it. Bradley also has very fast hands, although not as fast as Khan’s. Bradley has faced two fighters – Junior Witter and Kendall Holt – with hand speed similar to Khan, and in each case, Bradley got in close and got the better of them on the inside.

Khan may or may not be a little faster than Holt, but he isn’t a great inside fighter like Bradley he’ll have problems against the American if this fight does take place. There’s a huge difference in talent between Bradley and Khan’s recent opponents Dmitriy Salita, Andriy Kotelnik, Marco Antonio Barrera and Oisin Fagan. Those wins may have given Khan and some boxing fans a sense that Amir is better than he actually is.

Shaw is right about this one. Khan will be an easy fight for Bradley. Khan’s style of hitting and running won’t be nearly enough to beat Bradley. I can see Bradley nullifying that strategy in the opening seconds of the first round with heavy pressure. Then Khan will find himself in a real dog fight on the inside, an area where Khan is very limited.