By Marcus Richardson: Amir Khan’s comeback opponent for his April 21st fight will be announced this Tuesday in a press conference in Liverpool, UK. This will be Khan’s first fight in 2 years since his knockout loss to Saul Canelo Alvarez in May 2016. Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) probably could have comeback in 2017, but he chose to take it easy last year and do nothing.
Paulie Malignaiggi believes that Khan will be facing Phil ‘The Italian Sensation’ Lo Greco (28-3, 17 KOs) on April 21. Lo Greco, 33, revealed last week that he had been offered the Khan comeback fight, and he accepted it. However, Lo Greco said they were “cheap [expletives]” as far as the money that he’s being offered to face Khan. Lo Greco thinks the fight is worth a lot more than what he’s been offered. He said he’ll take it. Lo Greco also complained that he’ll have to move down from 154 to fight Khan at 147, as that’s where he plans on fighting. Lo Greco doesn’t understand that move, because he thinks that Khan will have to move up to 154 anyway for him to face Kell Brook later this year. Lo Greco doesn’t think Brook can make 147 any longer. Khan will likely try and get Brook to accept the fight at 147 though.
Here’s what Malignaggi said on his Twitter about Khan’s comeback fight on April 21:
”Looking forward to this. Tons of respect for Amir (I know firstly hand how good he is) and looking forward to seeing him back and of course I’m glad my buddy Phil Lo Greco is getting the opportunity. He’s been waiting for, he’s more than ready. Should be a great battle!”
Lo Greco has lost in the past to Errol Spence Jr., Joseph Elegele and Shawn Porter. Lo Greco isn’t considered a journeyman fighter yet, but he’s not a top tier talent. Khan has chosen wisely in picking Lo Greco and then having him boil down to 147 to weaken him.
Normally, this should be an easy fight for the 31-year-old Khan, but with him coming off a 2-year layoff and a bad knockout loss to Canelo, the wheels could come off once again. Lo Greco is a natural junior middleweight with some decent pop in his punches. Lo Greco has slow hand speed though, and he could wind up badly weight drained from having to make the 147 lb. weight limit. Khan making Lo Greco boil down to 147 is obviously a safeguard to ensure that he doesn’t suffer a loss in this fight. Lo Greco has only made 147 once in his career in 2010. Lo Greco has been a pro since 2006.
Khan is now signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport stable. Hearn wants to build up interest in a fight between Khan and Matchroom fighter Kell Brook for later this year. That’s going to be a big money fight, even though both fighters are considered past their prime and no longer relevant. It’s now or never for the Khan-Brook fight to take place. That’s likely the main reason why Khan chose to sign with Hearn. He would be crazy not to face Brook before the two of them retire. Brook is talking about retiring soon. He’s suffered eye injuries in his last 2 fights in losses to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.