By Michael Lieberman: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) is now on a head on crash course to fight a unification bout against WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) for later on this year, perhaps in September or sooner. Bradley showed that he’s a dirty fighter in defeating WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander last Saturday night. Using his head, albeit accidentally, Bradley was able to inflict a lot of punishment against Alexander and take the fight out of him.

With all the rough stuff that Bradley showed in that fight, you naturally have to be concerned about how Khan would be able to handle such tactics. He defeated power puncher Marcos Maidana last December, but didn’t have to worry about getting hit with his head or being wrestled around. Maidana mostly fought cleanly. However, it might be a whole different story against Bradley because of his tendency to lead with his head.

Khan is going to have to deal with that because he might end up getting cut to ribbons by the crown of Bradley’s head. Besides the headbutts, Khan also has to worry about the holding and wrestling that Bradley likes to do. Against Alexander, Bradley smothered him on the inside, holding, throwing shots and not giving Alexander much room to throw his punches. Bradley kept coming forward constantly like a little tsunami and was constantly in close. Khan doesn’t fight well on the inside and may not be prepared for those kinds of tactics against Bradley.

Speaking with Sky Sports News, Khan said “I’d just give him a stiff jab, sting his confidence, work him back. Then I would frustrate him, work him from side to side, duck and slip those shots and put him under pressure.”