By Scott Gilfoid: Amir Khan says he wants to fight for the WBC welterweight title against Danny Garcia at some point in the future after he comes back from his hand injury and takes a tune-up fight. Khan also says he’d like to fight WBA welterweight champion Keith “One Time’ Thurman. Khan feels that he should be able to fight both guys. He thinks that Thurman is vulnerable.
Khan doesn’t like that Danny Garcia was allowed to fight Robert Guerrero for the vacant WBC 147lb title last January instead of him.
Khan should have taken on Garcia for the WBC title instead of moving up to middleweight to face former World Boxing Council Saul Canelo Alvarez last May. Khan fought Canelo at a catch-weight of 155lbs, and was knocked out in the 6th round in a competitive fight. If Khan had stayed at welterweight, he likely would have fought Garcia by now.
Khan said to Fighthype.com:
“Look, Danny Garcia shouldn’t have even fought for that title because I was the number one. First of all, that title should have never been given to him. They are both [Garcia and Thurman] big fights for me and I can have them both. Why can’t I have them? Look, the rematch with Danny Garcia is always going to be there, yeah. Then say Keith Thurman beats Garcia and wins the WBC title; I’m the mandatory for it anyway, so I’ll get that fight.”
It’s surprising that the WBC has kept Khan as their No.1 contender after his loss to Canelo. Khan hasn’t done much in terms of fighting quality opposition at 147, and he should have fought for the WBC title by now. The fact that Khan is kept at No.1 by the WBC year after year without being pushed down the rankings is pretty sad. If Khan isn’t ready to fight for the world title against Danny Garcia, then the WBC needs to push him off the top peg and find someone that isn’t injured.
The WBC can always move Khan back up to No.1 again if/when he starts fighting quality opposition and beating them. I’m not holding my breath waiting for that to happen, because Khan is being matched very carefully at this ppint in his career.
“I just said to Al Haymon, ‘Look, get me the Danny Garcia fight because there’s unfinished business there and I really want that fight.’ He was like, ‘Cool. I’ll do what I can.’ Now it’s up to Danny Garcia and his team. I mean, I’ve seen an interview where his father says, ‘Why fight the top names? Why fight someone hard in their prime, in their peak, when you can fight a Salka?’”
If Khan can’t get a fight against Danny Garcia, then he needs to have his manager Al Haymon lean on Garcia to make the fight happen. Haymon manages Garcia as well. If he can’t get Garcia to take the fight Khan, then Haymon should take to the WBC about the forcing the fight by ordering Garcia to begin negotiations with Khan.
Khan was knocked out in the 4th round by Garcia four years ago in 2012. Ever since that loss, Khan has talked about wanting a rematch against Garcia, but it’s never happened.
I don’t think it’s a good idea for Khan to ever fight Keith Thurman. Khan has proven to be vulnerable against bi punchers, and Thurman is one of the biggest punchers in the division. I cannot see Khan taking a big shot from him.