Former world champion Amir Khan (32-4, 20 KOs) is hoping for a stadium fight in Bolton, targeting a high profile fight at the University of Bolton Stadium, which he wants to take place before the end of his career.

Khan is returning to action on Saturday night in Birmingham, when he steps in the ring with Colombia’s Samuel Vargas.

For Khan, this is his second fight since getting knocked out in brutal fashion in May 2016, when he moved up to a catch-weight of 155-pounds to challenge then WBC middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

Following the loss to Canelo, Khan underwent surgery on his hand and then took off for an extended amount of time.

Earlier this year, he announced a three fight deal with promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom - which many believe was a maneuver to move a step closer to a domestic super-fight with longtime rival Kell Brook, who Hearn also handles. 

In the first bout of his Matchroom pact, Khan returned to the ring in April and blew away Phil Lo Greco in less than a minute.

After Vargas, Khan is hoping to return to the ring in a world title opportunity at the end of 2018 or early 2019.

But beyond a world title, he wants to have a major stadium fight.

Khan told The Bolton News: “I want a stadium fight before I finish and why not at Bolton? It would be good to fight there. I am from Bolton and support Bolton Wanderers so that would be a dream.

“I think we could get 50,000 fans in there and I would love a big fight to be there. I also think it would be good for Bolton as well – it would be good to get fight fans to the town and pack the stadium out.

“There is not much left for me to achieve in my career but a stadium fight is one thing I haven’t done.”