By Sean McDaniel: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan finally received his work visa to fight in the United States, according to Fight News. Khan, 23, received his work permit today and will be flying out to New York to get ready for his May 15th fight against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden. Khan’s work visa previously expired over 10 days ago, making it necessary for him to leave the United States and reapply from Vancouver, Canada. There was worry by some people that Khan’s work visa might not be approved in time for his May 15th bout.
However, the visa was approved today and he’s now getting ready to defend his World Boxing Association title for the first time in the United States. Khan has previously defended his title once, beating Dmitri Salita by a 1st round knockout. This time, Khan has taken on a tougher opponent in 29-year-old Malignaggi. Khan has already promised to make a big impression on the U.S audiences by knocking Malignaggi out.
In turn, Malignaggi has responded by predicting a knockout of his own. Chances are, neither fighter will score a knockout in this fight and will have to settle for winning a decision. Khan wants bigger and better things for himself in the future, and believes that a win over Malignaggi will be the start of fame and fortune. It could be if Khan can look good against Malignaggi and continue to pick up wins against better fighters in the future.
Khan has mentioned wanting to fight Devon Alexander or Timothy Bradley next. It’s unclear why those fighters have been mentioned and not WBA light welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana. That would seem like the more pressing fight for Khan, and not Bradley and Alexander. Perhaps it would have been better for Khan to have fought Maidana now and then, provided he beats him, move forward for bouts against Bradley and Alexander.
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