By Rick Reeno
Based on the current positions of both parties, it's unlikely that WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan will take part in a unification with IBF king Zab Judah on July 23. Sources have advised BoxingScene.com that Judah's side is demanding a 50-50 split on the revenue. Golden Boy Promotions, who handle Khan, have no interest in discussing a 50-50 split with Judah.
Discussions began immediately after WBC/WBO champion Timothy Bradley rejected a revised offer to face Khan. The offer to Bradley had some lucrative points, including a package of $1.4 million [80/20 split between Bradley and his promoter Gary Shaw] and a 50-50 split on the UK pay-per-view revenue.
Judah's promoter, Main Events, believe their boxer's name recognition, and notoriety in the sport, is much bigger when compared to fighters like Bradley, and they are confident of Judah's ability to generate more interest, and more money, in the fight. They believe Judah's notoriety was validated when Top Rank was considering him as a November opponent for Manny Pacquiao, recognized as the biggest cash cow in boxing.
Judah, a fomer undisputed welterweight champion, has fought a who's who of fighters - including Cory Spinks, Miguel Cotto, Kostya Tszyu, Junior Witter, Joshua Clottey, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Lucas Matthysse and numerous others. If a deal was reached, Judah would become the most experienced opponent of Khan's career.
The frontrunner to face Khan appears to be WBA/WBO interim-lightweight champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, who recently expressed his interest in moving up to face Khan.