Amir Khan shared his intentions last week when he shocked the boxing world and signed a three-fight deal with Matchroom.
He will make his long-awaited return to the ring on April 21st when he will fight at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Khan hasn’t been seen in the ring since suffering The RING magazine’s knockout of the year, at the hands of Mexican superstar, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in April 2016.
Back in business. I will fight on April 21st in Liverpool pic.twitter.com/UqgmCNwKmb
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) January 10, 2018
Before opting to decide to sign with Matchroom, their domestic competitor and veteran promoter Frank Warren shared that discussions took place between him and Amir Khan.
“He came to us and asked if we were interested and they said they had the fight with Pacquiao,” Warren told Nick Parkinson.
Warren claims during the discussions, Bradley Skeete was presented as an option to Khan. Following that, there was no more correspondence between the pair.
“I offered him to fight Bradley Skeete, and he didn’t come back.”
“He got badly knocked out in his last fight and people have lost interest.”
2018 king is back. Can’t wait to fight in the UK 🇬🇧. It’s been 5 years since I last fought in England. Next fights April 21st at Liverpool Echo arena tickets go on sale soon. #Boxing#welterweight#Liverpool#21stApril#kingkhan@MatchroomBoxing@EddieHearn@SkySportsBoxingpic.twitter.com/ZQqcadqtZB
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) January 14, 2018
“I know he’s been in the jungle but that’s not fighting,” Warren added
“Realistically we will see what he has got left in his next fight.”
“They said they are looking for a tough opponent, so they should fight Bradley Skeete. But I know they won’t.”
Furthermore, Warren took aim at his rival Eddie Hearn for deciding to place Amir Khan’s return to the ring on the same night as Carl Frampton’s clash with Nonito Donaire in Belfast.
The situation is problematic in the sense that boxing fans will have to decide to watch Khan’s return on Sky or Frampton’s
“It’s ridiculous they are having Amir’s fight on the same night as Carl Frampton in Belfast. But our fight is a real fight between two quality operators but Khan will be fighting a stiff,” Warren said.
“It’s a stupid decision,” Warren told Boxing News. “You wouldn’t have Manchester United and Manchester City playing in separate matches at the same time on two different channels would you?
FRAMPTON FACES FILIPINO FLASH⚡️
Carl Frampton MBE will face Filipino former four-weight World Champion Nonito Donaire at @SSEBelfastArena on Saturday 21st April LIVE on @btsport & @boxnationtv 🔥
🎟 Tickets on sale Thursday at 10am #FramptonDonairepic.twitter.com/KtDHpfEywX
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) January 9, 2018
“It just shows he [Hearn] has got no respect for the sport. It’s so stupid.”
Lastly, Warren did stress that there will be no plans to rearrange Frampton’s next fight for another night given the conflict that will arise.
“We announced ours first,” Warren said.
“We’re not going to change the date because Khan is now fighting on the same night.”
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