By Lem Satterfield
WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and his trainer Freddie Roach, have pushed for a fight with WBA interim belt holder Marcos Maidana (28-1, 27KOs). For the last few months, the tough Argentinian has been dealing with managerial issues. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer says Maidana is ready to return, with a "stay-sharp fight" being targeted for August. Khan returns on December 11 in either Las Vegas or England.
Beyond August, Schaefer says a December fight with Khan is not out of the realm of possibility. Maidana recently signed a new multi-year contract with Golden Boy. The fight would depend on the outcome of the rematch between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez, scheduled for July 31 in Las Vegas. If Maidana can't get Khan, he would like to fight WBO champion Timothy Bradley in November or December.
If Diaz wins, a trilogy with Marquez could be the likley option. If Marquez, he may decided to fight someone other than Khan. In either scenario, Maidana becomes a frontrunner to fight Khan.
"[Khan-Maidana] would depend on the outcome of July 31," said Schaefer.
"If Juan Diaz should win, then that would be again, a Fight of the Year candidate, and then there could be a third fight between Diaz and Marquez. So that a trilogy would make the most sense for those two guys in my opinion. If Marquez would win, then the question would be for him that he would have several options."
"If he decides that he decides that he's going to stay at 135, then, obviously, the mandatory would be against Michael Katsidis, who, by the way, will be sitting at ringside on July 31 as well."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
