This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/02/amir-khan-chris-algieri-may-fight

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Amir Khan announces Chris Algieri as surprise opponent for May fight Amir Khan announces Chris Algieri as surprise opponent for May fight
(about 9 hours later)
Amir Khan has ended speculation over his next opponent by announcing he will fight the former light-welterweight world champion Chris Algieri on 30 May.Amir Khan has ended speculation over his next opponent by announcing he will fight the former light-welterweight world champion Chris Algieri on 30 May.
The Bolton fighter had come under increasing pressure to take on his British rival and IBF welterweight champion, Kell Brook, in June. However, Khan, who was also linked with bouts against Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, said he was already deep in negotiations to fight somebody else.The Bolton fighter had come under increasing pressure to take on his British rival and IBF welterweight champion, Kell Brook, in June. However, Khan, who was also linked with bouts against Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, said he was already deep in negotiations to fight somebody else.
On his wife’s YouTube channel Khan announced: “The next opponent will be Chris Algieri. I will be taking that fight at 147lbs [the welterweight limit]. He’s from New York, he’s had 21 fights and only lost one fight. He’s the same height as me, 5ft 10in, ranked No8 in the world. We’re all happy with the fight so hopefully it can lead to bigger ones in the future.”On his wife’s YouTube channel Khan announced: “The next opponent will be Chris Algieri. I will be taking that fight at 147lbs [the welterweight limit]. He’s from New York, he’s had 21 fights and only lost one fight. He’s the same height as me, 5ft 10in, ranked No8 in the world. We’re all happy with the fight so hopefully it can lead to bigger ones in the future.”
Related: US viewers must pay $89.95 for Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout – report
The bout has yet to be rubber-stamped but Khan added: “I’m looking forward to getting this fight announced officially by my manager and advisor, Al Haymon.”The bout has yet to be rubber-stamped but Khan added: “I’m looking forward to getting this fight announced officially by my manager and advisor, Al Haymon.”
Algieri’s only defeat in his 21-fight professional career came in his last bout against Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather Jr in a mega-fight in Las Vegas on 2 May.Algieri’s only defeat in his 21-fight professional career came in his last bout against Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather Jr in a mega-fight in Las Vegas on 2 May.
Algieri was knocked down six times en route to a heavily lopsided points loss in November last year. Yet Khan believes his American foe is a credible opponent as he wrested the WBO light-welterweight title off the much feared Ruslan Provodnikov in June 2014.Algieri was knocked down six times en route to a heavily lopsided points loss in November last year. Yet Khan believes his American foe is a credible opponent as he wrested the WBO light-welterweight title off the much feared Ruslan Provodnikov in June 2014.
Khan said: “You can class him as an A-class opponent. He has fought decent opponents, beaten decent opponents, and just fell short against Manny Pacquiao, which is an A-star opponent.Khan said: “You can class him as an A-class opponent. He has fought decent opponents, beaten decent opponents, and just fell short against Manny Pacquiao, which is an A-star opponent.
“He’s a decent boxer overall. He knows how to box and knows how to move well. He takes a decent amount of shots and he’s got a decent amount of power, so I think overall it’s going to be a good fight for me.”“He’s a decent boxer overall. He knows how to box and knows how to move well. He takes a decent amount of shots and he’s got a decent amount of power, so I think overall it’s going to be a good fight for me.”
The 28-year-old hopes to fight in Algieri’s home city of New York, with Khan’s only previous outing there an 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden in May 2010. This time, though, Khan wants the non-title bout at the Barclays Center.The 28-year-old hopes to fight in Algieri’s home city of New York, with Khan’s only previous outing there an 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden in May 2010. This time, though, Khan wants the non-title bout at the Barclays Center.
“Having that fight in New York will be good for the UK fans in a way because it will give them a chance to travel and it won’t be as far as going to [Las] Vegas,“ he said. “This time I’d like to fight at the Barclays Center, which I’ve never fought at.”“Having that fight in New York will be good for the UK fans in a way because it will give them a chance to travel and it won’t be as far as going to [Las] Vegas,“ he said. “This time I’d like to fight at the Barclays Center, which I’ve never fought at.”
Khan has made no secret of his desire to chase lucrative showdowns against Mayweather or Pacquiao and is confident a win over Algieri can lead him to that. “Hopefully this can lead me on to the bigger fights in the future, which is what I’m looking at,” he added.Khan has made no secret of his desire to chase lucrative showdowns against Mayweather or Pacquiao and is confident a win over Algieri can lead him to that. “Hopefully this can lead me on to the bigger fights in the future, which is what I’m looking at,” he added.