By Sean McDaniel: HBO may not be interested in showing IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s next fight, but they certainly are to show WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KO’s). Dan Rafael of ESPN reports that HBO has already set aside the December 11th date for the 23-year-old Khan’s next fight, which could very well end up being against WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Khan is interested in fighting the 36-year-old Marquez, and both HBO and Golden Boy Promotions, who promotes both Khan and Marquez, are eager to put this fight together. Marquez is reportedly interested in facing Khan, despite the fact that he turned down a fight with the bigger Khan earlier this year.

It seems that someone has convinced Marquez to take the fight with the former 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist from Britain. Marquez would have to move up in weight to the light welterweight division for him to fight Khan. Presumably, HBO will still be interested in showing Khan’s next fight if Juan Diaz ends up beating Marquez in their fight next week on July 31st. Diaz, 26, has lost three out of his last five bouts and it’s probably not nearly as interesting for HBO if he winds up as Khan’s next opponent, even though Diaz is an exciting fighter to watch when he has an opponent that is willing to trade with him.

Khan called out WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on Khan’s Twitter page, saying that he wants to fight him and that Khan would be talking to Golden Boy Promotions about having them try to set up the fight. However, Golden Boy likely won’t let Khan anywhere near the unbeaten Bradley right now, because he’s too dangerous and the fight won’t make the big money now that it will a little later on. Beating the older and smaller Marquez will help Khan a lot with the casual boxing fans, who won’t understand that Marquez is up there in age and doesn’t belong fighting in the light welterweight division.

Hopefully, Golden Boy starts matching Khan against some talented light welterweights after Khan gets by Marquez, because they could end up stunting Khan’s career if they continuously match him against weak punchers or older fighter. Khan will likely be in shock when the time comes for him to fight someone like Marcos Maidana, Devon Alexander, Victor Ortiz, and Bradley. It’s better to at least get Khan used to fighting quality fighters from the same division that he’s holding a title in. Khan hasn’t been in with a big puncher since he was stopped in the 1st round two years ago by Breidis Prescott.