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Khan handed first title fight

23/04/2007

Amir Khan will get his first shot at a major title when he faces Commonwealth lightweight belt-holder Willie Limond in July.

Khan, 20, has been angling for a major title bout for several months after easing through all his development fights in his professional career so far.

And now the Bolton-born boxer will have his wish when he takes on Glasgow fighter Limond for the Commonwealth title at the O2 on July 14th.

In his last fight, the 12th of his career to date, Khan destroyed Steffy Bull with a third-round stoppage in Cardiff and afterwards threw down the gauntlet to his British peers.

"There are a few fighters I'd love to fight just to shut their mouths. They're scared," he said.

And despite being kept away from the fighters he called out by name, including British champion Jonathan Thaxton, Khan has now been given the title fight he was promised by promoter Frank Warren.

"Amir will have a title fight in July, but I don't know which. It's very difficult to see how you can hold him back," Warren said after witnessing his young prodigy's latest victory over Bull.

Limond, 28, has only one defeat to his name in his career – an eighth-round stoppage four years ago against Alex Arthur and is considered to be one of the finest talents in British boxing.

However Khan, who is a former Olympic silver medallist, is likely to be installed as the favourite for the bout as he is thought to pack more of a punch than his opponent.

The fight will be on the undercard of Nicky Cook against Steven Luevano for the vacant WBO featherweight belt.

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