By Mark Vester
Promoter Frank Warren revealed at the recent press conference for Amir Khan (15-0, 12KOs) vs. Martin Kristjansen (19-1-3, 5KOs), that he would like to match Khan against WBA/IBF/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz (33-0, 17KOs) or WBO interim-lightweight champ Michael Katsidis (23-0, 20KOs), within the next twelve months.
Khan must first get past Kristjansen on Feb. 2 at the ExCel Arena in London, with the vacant WBO Intercontinental lightweight title at stake. Following Kristjansen, Khan is likely to meet British lightweight champ Jon Thaxton by April.
The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered that a bout between Khan and Thaxton take place no earlier than March 2 and no later than the end of April. If all goes well with Thaxton, Khan would probably take another fight or two before targeting a major world title by the end of the year.
Warren, speaking on his official website, said he likes Khan's chances against all of the champions, but he feels a matchup with Katsidis would make for a better fight.
"I like the fight with Katsidis, I would like that fight to happen some time this year," Warren said. "He is tough, he comes to fight, he can punch, but he also goes over as we saw when Graham Earl clipped him. It's a fight I like. Amir has achieved far more than I expected in such a short space of time, and I believe 2008 will be his year and he will challenge for a world title at some point in the next 12 months. If he wins this fight it moves him up the (WBO) rankings."
Khan has been studying tapes of Juan Diaz and his WBC counterpart David Diaz. He feels that by the end of this year, he will ready to challenge them all.
"I have seen them fight," Khan said. "They are good fighters. One day I might be fighting these guys. It's good to know about them, and I should be ready for them later this year. I want to beat everyone in the division."
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