By James Slater: Both fighters have wanted it, and have been calling for it for a while now, and the fans certainly want to see it. And now, on July 23rd, at a venue still to be determined, rival 140-pound belt-holders Amir Khan and Timothy Bradley will, according to Bradley’s promoter Gary Shaw, meet in the ring. The winner will be recognised as the number-one in the currently talent-rich light-welterweight division, and a great case can be made for either guy’s hand being raised.
Khan, 24-1(17) is the faster man, Bradley the physically (and perhaps mentally) stronger fighter. The only thing now that can prevent the showdown from taking place as planned, is a Paul McCloskey upset win over the reigning WBA champ. Khan will meet the unbeaten McCloskey on April 16th and, according to Shaw, Khan will then fight Bradley if he has retained his belt.
“It’s done,” Shaw told fight news.com earlier this week. “There is an agreement between Richard Schaefer and myself that both Amir and Timothy will fight each other on July 23rd. Obviously Khan has to win on April 16th for this fight to take place. With regards to where the fight will take place, we’re open to Vegas, Los Angeles, anywhere.”
Khan’s biggest and most important win came in Las Vegas, when he fought hard and well in winning a thriller of a points decision over the hard-hitting Marcos Maidana last December. Bradley, the reigning WBC and WBO champion, has yet to fight under the bright lights of “Sin City.” Shouldn’t this unification bout, a fight that could well be a truly defining moment for the winner, take place in the city that has played host to so many great boxing nights?
Bradley, who went to 27-0(11) when he beat Devon Alexander in January, will have to sit and wait now, hoping that “King Khan” can get the job done against European champ McCloskey. Should the 31-year-old southpaw with the 22-0(12) pro record (who is listed as a whopping 12-1 underdog in some places) pull off a candidate for Upset O T Y, Bradley would see the fight he has craved for so long slip through his fingers!
With all due respect to the hard working, talented and determined Paul McCloskey; Khan Vs. Bradley is the 140-pound fight all of boxing wants to see.