By Sean McDaniel: It looks like Marcos Maidana, the WBA light welterweight interim champion, isn’t being strongly considered as WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan’s next fight on July 23rd. Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that Dan Rafael is reporting in the news today that he’s looking to wrap up Khan’s next fight this week and is looking to match him with either International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight champion Zab Judah or Erik Morales next.

Maidana and Roberto Guerrero aren’t being mentioned. Judah would be the more dangerous guy compared to Morales, 34, who isn’t a big puncher at light welterweight and doesn’t have Judah’s speed or power. I would be a decision where Khan’s Golden Promotions handlers would be deciding to face him up against an old legend in Morales, who isn’t near what he used to be but who has a fairly decent following, or putting him in with Judah and risk having Khan get knocked out and exposed once again. It seems like a no-brainer. Khan’s chin is vulnerable and Judah hits hard. That alone would seem enough reason for Golden Boy to rule out matching Khan with Judah and opting to put him in with Morales in a fight that would be similar to when Khan fought an old fading Marco Antonio Barrera in the past.

It’s a win-win for Khan, because he gets a guy in Morales who’s not all that dangerous compared to the alternatives of facing Judah or Maidana, but who is well known among boxing fans. Khan would get a name to add to is resume, even if it’s a slightly shot one. If I’m reading this right it’s not going to be Judah that gets the fight with Khan. I see Morales all the way. Because this fight would buy Khan some time before trying to arrange a bout with WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley later on in the year.

Khan might not have his WBA title by then, however, because Maidana’s team are making noises about Maidana being Khan’s mandatory challenger and that Khan has until September 11th to fight him. I don’t see that happening, so if Maidana’s team are right, we may see Khan lose his belt without fighting Maidana. That would be sad but it’s probably better for Khan not to fight Maidana and risk getting knocked out or badly hurt by him. Morales is much safer, weaker and older than Maidana. Khan is better off taking that fight and then seeing if he can get a bout against Bradley later in the year. Bradley can’t punch and that would be a much safer fight for Khan than taking on Maidana or Breidis Prescott and risk getting knocked out again.