Khan: Joshua Should Go to America, Make Wilder Fight Bigger

By Keith Idec

As pleased as Amir Khan might be to fight in England again, Khan knows boxing in the United States helped build his brand and make him a bigger star.

As huge as Anthony Joshua has become in the United Kingdom, Khan thinks the undefeated heavyweight champion needs to fight in America, too. Khan suggested to Sky Sports for a story posted Monday to the network’s website that Joshua should fight in the United States later this year.

England’s Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) hasn’t fought outside of the United Kingdom since the 2012 Olympic gold medalist turned pro in October 2013. The 28-year-old knockout artist is scheduled to defend his IBF, IBO and WBA titles against WBO champ Joseph Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

“When you fight in America, you become that global star, and that’s what I did,” Khan said. “People around the world now, wherever I go, they recognize me because of U.S. television, how they promote you. One thing about the heavyweight division that AJ should definitely watch is it’s always been big in America, with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield. Why not fight in a country where heavyweight boxing is big? If he wants to make a big name, he might want to fight there first.”

Joshua has repeatedly stated a desire to fight in the United States. He was willing to travel there to face Wladimir Klitschko in a proposed rematch November 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Klitschko opted to retire.

Joshua also realizes, however, that he can continue making eight figures and filling stadiums for fights in the United Kingdom. Khan considers Joshua boxing in the United States important in making his much-discussed showdown with Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) a bigger fight.

“He will build his name up,” Khan said, “he will get a good knockout against some up-and-coming fighter, and then he will be ready, because people will see him live on TV and live in America. They will be like, ‘This fight needs to happen now.’

“That’s a fight people want to see in America. They are already talking about AJ. I think he should go there.”

Three weeks after Joshua opposes Parker, Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) will battle Toronto’s Phil Lo Greco (28-3, 15 KOs) on April 21 in Liverpool, England. That’ll mark Khan’s first fight since Canelo Alvarez knocked him out in the sixth round of their middleweight title fight in May 2016, as well as the start of his three-fight deal with promoter Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.