By Phil D. Jay

IBF/WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan has brushed aside a rematch challenge from the WBA's "regular" champion, Marcos Maidana. The 24-year-old has been linked to a rematch with the hard-hitting belt holder since the two went to war in a ‘Fight of the Year’ twelve-rounder last December. Instead, Khan set a clear goal of moving up to 147-pounds to secure a bout with WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Maidana, 28, has fired off some Twitter bombs at Khan, who quickly replied and advised ‘Chino’ to fight current WBO champion Timothy Bradley.

“I am sick of all this Maidana talk,” stated Khan. “He turns down the chance to fight for the WBC world title to fight a guy ranked 57th [in the world] and wants a rematch with me. I beat the guy and he’s going backwards. All of my fights in the 140-pound division have been against fighters in the top ten. Lamont Peterson is next.

“[Peterson has] only lost once, against Bradley, and had a draw against Victor Ortiz. I've got a lot of respect for him and he is the mandatory for my IBF [title]. Maidana just wants a payday [so] good luck to him. Bradley should fight him for the WBA [and WBO] I’d love to see that but Bradley somehow made his own balls disappear.

“A lot of you want to see the Maidana rematch [and] yes it was a cracking fight. I enjoyed watching it too. It could happen. Let’s see him fight Bradley."

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net