By Sean McDaniel: WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) expects WBC/WBO champion Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) to try and head butt him when they meet up on July 23 for their unification bout. Khan plans on boxing Bradley to avoid getting hit with the top of his head like many of his opponents.

Speaking to boxingfutures.com, Khan said “Bradley comes in with his head and he’s strong at times but I think I’ve got the skills to beat him. I wouldn’t let him get that close to headbutt me. I’m sure he’ll try but that’s just his style and it’s got him so far at the moment. I go in there to box and I win that way. Some fighters have to cheat in a way and I think that he’s been cheating.”

Khan moved a lot in his last fight against Marcos Maidana last December. However, Khan seemed to go rubber-legged after getting hurt in the 10th and looked weak in the last three rounds of the fight. Whether that was from the punch or from his legs wearing out because of the continuous movement that he was forced to is unclear. What is clear is that Khan is going to need to move a great deal if he wants to beat Bradley this summer. Khan can’t stand and trade with Bradley, because Bradley will get in close, and possibly hurt Khan with one of his head butts.

Bradley doesn’t appear to intentionally headbutt anyone. What seems to be the problem for Bradley is his lack of arm length. He’s forced to get in really close because of his short arms and he’s often forced to dive forward to get in his shots. Unfortunately his head is often the first thing that arrives before his punches. If Khan stands and trades with him, Bradley could end up slicking Khan’s face up with headbutts. Khan also doesn’t have an inside game and he’ll get the worst of it with Bradley’s constant smothering and inside fighting.