Amir Khan Says UK Tuneup in January, Brook Clash Possible

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former world champion Amir Khan (31-4, 19KOs) is planning to fight in UK on a date in January, in a tuneup fight, before heading targeting a far more lucrative opportunity in May.

Khan has been out of the ring since suffering a vicious sixth round knockout loss at the hands of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in May. For that contest he moved up to a catch-weight of 155-pounds, but now plans to drop down to welterweight.

He recently had major surgery on his right hand and wants to return once fully healed.

“I want to fight again in January, then in May and again before the end of 2017. I’m going to start training and make sure my hand is fully recovered. I don’t want to rush into a fight at the end of this year," Khan told The Sun.

“I want my next fight to be in Britain. I know it’s going to have to be a tune-up having lost the Canelo fight and also having had the hand surgery.”

Khan is the mandatory challenger to WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia, who holds a four round knockout win over the British fighter from their 2012 unification showdown at junior welterweight. Once Khan has fully healed and gives the WBC the green light, they plan to order the fight.

The most lucrative option for Khan is a fight with domestic rival Kell Brook, who still holds the IBF's title at 147-pounds. Like Khan, Brook jumped up to the middleweight division last Saturday and saw himself get stopped by unified champion Gennady Golovkin in five rounds. Brook is likely to settle down at 154-pounds, which could be problematic is making the fight with Khan, who won't go up that high.

“Welterweight is the weight for me and there are big fights out there still — including Kell. A fight between me and Kell is not only a big fight in England, but it could be big globally,” Khan said.