AMIR KHAN has stated his intention to face Marcos Maidana in a rematch if the heavy-handed Argentine comes out of retirement.
The duo were involved in a Fight of the Year contest in 2010 when the British star emerged victorious in a close-fought points victory.
Amir Khan won an epic battle with Marcos Maidana in 2010Credit: Mark Robinson
Khan was defending his WBA light-welterweight belt in Las Vegas and thought he knocked Maidana out in the first round after he dropped him with a sickening body shot.
But Maidana, 36, bravely soldiered on, and although he was outboxed in the opening rounds, he grew in the latter stages and wobbled the 2004 Olympic silver medallist.
Judges scored the bout 114-11, 114-111 and 113-112 in Khan’s favour, with his performance undoubtedly one of the best of his career.
And the 33-year-old has revealed he would be willing to trade punches with the 35-5 fighter again – who hasn’t fought professionally since his two defeats to Floyd Mayweather in 2014.
Maidana – who knocked out 31 opponents during his ten-year career – had hoped to be involved in an exhibition contest last month, only for the event to be pushed back due to the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking in a conference call for the 99th WBA Convention last week, Maidana asked Khan: “What do you think about giving me a rematch? It would be a good fight?”
To which Khan said: “You were one of my toughest opponents and, in addition to everything that happened in that fight, I respect you very much.
“Of course, I would give you a rematch with one condition: that Alex Ariza (strength and conditioning coach) be with me.”
Khan also commented on Maidana’s planned exhibition fight, as he added: “I got a lot of respect for him in whatever he does in life. I wish him all the best.
“He punched hard. Every punch he hit me with hurt me. He was so physically strong. He would not take a step back.
“I remember when I hit him with a body shot. Anybody else less would have stayed down. He got back up. I was like, ‘Oh my God, how has he got back up?’”
Amir Khan spars with Manny Pacquiao in ring training session
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
