By Shaun Campbell: British boxing has a lot of brilliant fights lined up for 2011 with a number of world, European and commonwealth champions looking to establish their-selves. It’s exciting times for the public who have a host of fighters on the brink of world glory, and also some that have already reached that level. Here are just some of the possible fights to look forward to.

Amir Khan vs. Timothy Bradley/Devon Alexander:

With the best win of his career to date over Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan has shot himself into the big time in America. The WBA light-welterweight world champion showed heart, skill, and an improved chin. In the process of this victory Khan silenced the doubters and proved he is world class. Now he is targeting a possible showdown with Floyd Mayweather late next year, but first plans to unify the light-welterweight division. To do this the fighter from Bolton will have to beat the winner of Timothy Bradley/Devon Alexander. Both fighters are more than capable of derailing Khan’s dream of facing Mayweather, but after the performance he put on against Marcos Maidana, Khan has every possibility of becoming the first Brit since Ricky Hatton to unify the light-welterweight division. A showdown with either of these fighters will be more of a boxing match than an all out war, and with Khan’s speed and movement he should be able to defeat either man.

Matthew Macklin vs. Dmitry Pirog:

Matthew Macklin has slowly worked his way towards fulfilling the potential he showed early on in his career by winning the European title twice in the past two years. Macklin has to relinquish the title due to injury, and it looked certain he would face Darren Barker last September. Unfortunately for the fans Barker had to pull out also due to injury, and Macklin faced the tough but ultimately out-classed Shalva Jomardashvili. Macklin stopped his man as Jomardashvili failed to come out for the 7th round. After a less than impressive defence against Ruben Varon, Macklin now has a chance of fighting for a world title sometime in 2011. The Birmingham man has said in the past he is lacking motivation, and performs better against better opponents. To win a world title Macklin would have to put on a performance superior to anything we have seen him do before, but he does have the talent to do it. There has been talk of him facing the IBF champion in Sebastian Sylvester, but it looks more likely he will face the man who handed Golden Boy top prospect Daniel Jacobs his first defeat, Dmitry Pirog. The WBO champion was scheduled to face Macklin for the European title in the past but it never materialized, now the European champion says there’s a possibility they will square off next year. Obviously with two big hitters, this fight is unlikely to go the distance, with both fighters highly motivated it could be a potential fight of the year candidate if it can be put together.

Matthew Hatton vs. Viacheslav Senchenko:

No one is referring to him as “Ricky’s younger brother” anymore. Another European champion Britain has. ‘Magic’ Matthew is looking for a world title shot sometime next year after a string of impressive performances under new trainer Bob Shannon. Promoter and brother Ricky is certain that this is the year Matthew should be fighting for a world championship as he’s undoubtedly in the form of his life. There are still many people out there who say he is no more than an average fighter who’s got to where he has purely because of his name. But Hatton is out the shut them up by targeting WBA champion Senchenko. This is a fight that would obviously ask many questions of Matthew, but it is the easiest fight out there in the welterweight division that would reward him with a world title. WBC champion Andre Berto would likely to be too classy for Hatton, but the WBA rank the Manchester man high enough to warrant a match up between him and Senchenko. It would be the toughest fight of Matthew’s career, but it’s a fight he is capable of winning. Now it’s down to big brother to deliver the chance.