By Rick Reeno
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan will not be fighting Juan Manuel Marquez on May 15 in Las Vegas. Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions, told BoxingScene on Wednesday that Marquez has not communicated with them on the fight, and Khan would move forward with another opponent.
Marquez's manager/trainer Nacho Beristain made a lot of negative comments about Golden Boy's offer to fight Khan. He felt his fighter was being used as a "stepping stone" to build Khan's name in America. Schaefer denies the accusation, and told BoxingScene he was simply trying to do his job as a promoter by getting Marquez the most lucrative fight possible.
With Marquez slipping out of the picture, Khan needs a recognizable name for his American/HBO debut. Numerous sources told me that among the names being mentioned to replace Marquez, HBO's preference is former champion Paulie Malignaggi. This would not be the first time for Golden Boy to explore a possible meeting between Khan and Malignaggi. When Khan first signed with Golden Boy in January, Schaefer wanted Malignaggi as Khan's opponent for his HBO debut.
Based on what I was told several weeks ago by Malignaggi's promoter Lou DiBella, the money would have to right, and so would the venue. DiBella and Malignaggi were completely against the fight taking place in Las Vegas. At the same time, DiBella was not willing to stage the fight if Malignaggi was going to be treated like an "opponent." In other words, he felt Malignaggi was being treated like a second-tier fighter. The most logical venue would be the WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden. Again, DiBella had previously told BoxingScene he would refuse to make the fight if Khan, who is unknown in the United States, came to Malignaggi's backyard as the "a-side" of the promotion.
DiBella told BoxingScene back in January - "We just want a fair deal. I want my fighter to be treated fairly. Khan is keeping all of the British television [money], so Golden Boy's offer has to be fair. Paulie is not going to be treated like a b-side opponent. Nobody knows Khan in the United States. Khan has to earn his position like everyone else."
If you are keeping up with the recent headlines, DiBella has been trying to finalize a deal for Malignaggi to fight WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto on April 10 at the WaMu Theater. Berto-Malignaggi was going to be televised on HBO. If Malignaggi is secured as Khan's opponent, multiple sources told BoxingScene that Berto could possibly fight either former welterweight champion Carlos Quintana - or former 140-pound belt-holder Kendall Holt.
