Who Should Amir Khan Fight In His American Debut?

boxingby James Slater – WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has made it clear he is anxious to make his debut in America soon, very possibly the next time he fights. Fresh off his impressive one-round blow-out of the previously unbeaten Dmitriy Salita, the 23-year-old has said many times how much it means to him to make his name in the U.S.

Currently there are at least three names being bandied around as possible opponents Khan could face next, and in America, but we have to wait for official confirmation. It is still possible Khan could fight again in the U.K – certainly promoter Frank Warren said he’d like to see his fighter box over here a couple more times before he goes to the States. But if Khan gets his way, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t, his next bout, his next world title defence, will be in the country seen as number-one when it comes to a fighter proving himself as one of the best..

Who would you like to see Khan fight in his U.S debut?

The names I’ve read as possibilities are Jose Luis Castillo, Zab Judah and Juan Manuel Marquez. The faded Castillo aside, these are an interesting and exciting set of names. And judging by how fast, how powerful and how strong he looked up at 140-pounds on Saturday night, Khan would be favourite over all of them – as good as they are.

32-year-old Judah would bring to the table his reputation as a former two-weight world champion and he would also present Khan with the challenge of facing a southpaw. With 140-pounds always being his best weight (Zab was too small against the big welterweights), the Brooklyn man would be strong and also fast. It would be interesting to see how Khan would cope with Zab’s experience as well as his hand speed – hand speed that would perhaps even rival his own.

As for Marquez, he too has a most impressive track record and is a former three-weight world champion. But Marquez has never fought at light-welterweight before, he is coming off a one-sided loss (albeit to the best, or maybe the second best fighter on the planet in Floyd Mayweather Junior) and he is getting on in years at age 36. Khan has shown a lot of interest in facing the man known as “Dinamita,” however, and so has his trainer Freddie Roach. Could Khan even become the first man to stop the Mexican great?

As for Castillo, who Roach has also reportedly expressed interest in his charge fighting, the 35-year-old has beaten nobody of real note since his 4th-round KO loss at the hands of Ricky Hatton back in June of 2007. The Mexican warhorse has been active, however, wining his last four fights, all of them taking place this year and all of them ending via by stoppage. But how would the critics who moaned about Khan-Salita react if the WBA 140-pound champ did opt to face the veteran? Would even a crushing win for Khan prove all that much?

For me, Khan Vs. Marquez is the most interesting fight of the possibilities being discussed, but the Judah fight isn’t far behind. For the record, Khan has not ruled out an all-British showdown with former champ Ricky Hatton, but if that money spinner did take place you can bet it will happen in the U.K.