By Mark Vester
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan spoke with BBC Sport and said he was interested in an all-British clash with undefeated Kevin Mitchell. Both of them are headlining different events on May 15. Mitchell is fighting Michael Katsidis in the UK. Khan is making his American debut against Paulie Malignaggi in New York. Mitchell is promoted by Frank Warren, who Khan recently left for Golden Boy Promotions.
Khan thinks Mitchell is the next star in Warren's stable and for that reason the British promoter will not make the fight. If the fight happens, Khan has no doubt his skills will will overwhelm Mitchell.
"I'd fancy it, but I don't think they would - Mitchell is Frank Warren's golden boy and I think they want to keep it that way," Khan told BBC Sport. "Frank wouldn't want one of his fighters to get beat by a guy from a different camp. If it did happen, definitely I'd beat him, no doubt about it. He's a good fighter but it would just be a case of hit and move."
Mitchell says Khan is the one who would back away from making the fight happen. He thinks Khan would get chin-checked by power punch combinations.
"I'd want it, but Amir wouldn't - he's been found out," Mitchell countered. "Amir Khan knows the score - he's a good boy and a nice boxer but I think everyone knows now in the boxing world what he's about. He took Paulie Malignaggi instead of taking on his number one mandatory [Marcos Maidana], so I think the Americans know the score as well.
"It's been proven, anyone who can half-punch, Khan's vulnerable against and Maidana can proper punch, which is why they are keeping away from him. He's got an easier opponent than me, definitely - a non-puncher, someone who doesn't throw many, an old boy and someone who Ricky Hatton knocked out two years ago. I'm taking on a ferocious, come-forward puncher who's as angry as they come."
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