Amir Khan has refused to rule out the possibility that he could get into the ring with Lamont Peterson again, despite the American facing a ban for failing a drugs test.
The Briton’s rematch with Peterson, who took his WBA and IBF lightwelterweight titles in a controversial bout in Washington last December, was scrapped after Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone.
But while Khan believes that Peterson should be suspended, he said that there could be interest in him facing the American again if he escapes a long ban on June 13 when he faces a hearing of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“If he doesn’t get a long ban and people want to see it, then it could happen,” Khan said. “If he is out for a long time and comes back, I don’t think there will be much point.”
The next stage in Khan’s career was formally announced yesterday at a press conference in Los Angeles, where he came face to face for the first time with Danny García, the unbeaten American, whom he will meet at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre, Las Vegas, on July 14.
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The bout will be for García’s WBC title, but there is a possibility that either or both the WBA and IBF titles will also be on the line if the result of Khan’s split points decision defeat by Peterson is amended to a no-contest.
The American has admitted that he was injected with synthetic testosterone pellets before that bout, but he says that it was for a medical complaint.
It was after a press conference in Los Angeles in March that Peterson provided his positive blood sample to testers. Peterson had demanded that the pair sign up to Olympic-standard testing. Andre Berto, the former WBC welterweight champion, has also fallen foul of tougher testing, after he tested positive for a steroid last month.
Khan and García have signed up to Olympic-style random testing, which will be carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. “Every fight now, I am going to insist on proper random drugs testing,” Khan said. “Even though it costs a lost of money it needs to be done and I am going to push for it in every fight I have. I am clean and I want a fair fight. I insisted on it for the García fight and he had to agree to that.
“Things happen for a reason. I got a lot of experience from that last fight, being in a tough 12-round contest. I had been thinking of moving up to welterweight after that but I think I needed time before I go up to the top boys.”
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At yesterday’s press conference, Khan exchanged words with García’s father and manager, Angel, who had mocked the Englishman’s style and called Khan “overhyped”. “When I beat your son will I still be over-hyped?” Khan then asked García Sr. “I’m going to beat Danny García. I’m too smart, big and strong.”