July 23rd 2011, take careful note of this date.

By Robert Smith: While it’s not Independence day, (July 4th) one fighter will be stepping out into a mega money clash when the curtains close at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, As WBA junior welterweight champion Amir ‘King’ Khan (25-1, 17 Kos) takes on IBF champion Zab ‘Super’ Judah (41-6, 28 Kos). And on this night, all the chips really are on the table.

After an early jostle over the purse for the fight ending amicably with Khan taking a 55-45 split, it’s time for discussions to cease and pedigree to elevate itself in what can only be described as a dangerous and ever ambitious challenge for Khan in his quest to reign supreme in the Welterweight division.

For Judah, the road has been a long one, after enduring a losing run of 4 fights in the Mid Naughties, culminated by an 11th round Tko to Miguel Cotto (36-2,29 Kos) in June 2007, a then rebound to form looked likely, only to suffer a technical decision stoppage to Joshua Clottey ( 35-4,20 Kos) in August 2008. This was to prove a derailing moment in the career of Zab who only put in two fights in the following two years against second tier competitors.

But you can’t keep a Champion down, and it was the wins over hard hitting Argentinean Lucas Matthysse and the capturing of the vacant IBF light welterweight title against a resurgent Kaizer Mabuza that really brought Zab back to his ‘Super’ status among boxings top flight.

Khan on the other hand is an ever rising star stateside and under the careful tutelage of Freddie ‘I know Titles’ Roach and Oscar De LaHoya’s Golden Boy promotions, he is riding a wave of success off the back of a knife edge UD victory over Victor Ortiz Stopper Marcos Maidana having outclassed a battle worn Paulie Malignaggi previously.

Khan carries with him blistering hand speed, excellent footwork and newly improved physical strength thanks to conditioning Coach Alex Ariza. For Zab, his hand speed is just as sharp as when he crossed Floyd Mayweather Jnr in 2006 but has been called into question of late regarding his stamina in the latter rounds. But with the spotlight on Zab now, he will want to keep it there so he must be respected.

So What’s in it for the winner? Bar the small matter of a Championship belt unification, the very realistic prospect of facing the meteoric Manny Pacquiao, current WBO and WBC champion Timothy Bradley and even Floyd Money Mayweather Jnr himself are among the names already being touted about.

With Zab aiming to show why he is ‘super’ and Khan out to display why he is ‘King’, expect someone to reign at the end of what may well turn out to be a spectacular fight.