Amir Khan vs. Marcos Maidana Signed, Will Take Place in the U.S.

Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana have overcome financial and venue disagreements to agree to a WBA title fight on December 11 in the United States.

The deal was reached with little time to spare, as the WBA had ordered the fight to go to a purse bid if both parties were unable to negotiate a deal by September 21. Had that happened, the purse split would have been 55-45 in favor of  the champion Khan, and allowed any WBA-registered promoter to bid on the fight. Golden Boy Promotions, who represents Khan, was able to get their fighter to relent on his request to have the fight in England by having Maidana agree to let Khan retain the UK television rights.

Financially, Khan will make $1.5 million from the fight. Maidana will receive $550,000 plus a bonus should he win. The bonus amount has not been verified.

“We worked it out financially where everyone was happy,” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN. “It was a difficult fight to put together but this was the fight I kept hearing from fans and media that they wanted to see. Golden Boy made some concessions and we got the fight done.”

Maidana will be the hardest punching fighter Khan has faced since losing by first round KO to Breidis Prescott in 2008. Some fans have stated Khan’s recent opposition have been selectively picked to mask a weak chin. This is an accusation Khan is determined to dispel with Maidana, a fight he says he pushed hard for.

“I’m coming to fight him where he wants to fight. But I want this fight, so I am going where he wants to fight,” Khan stated to ESPN. “That’s how much I want this fight.”

The fight will likely land on HBO, and would be Khan’s second U.S. appearance. In May, he debuted at Madison Square Garden with a one-sided 11th round TKO over Paulie Malignaggi.

According to Richard Schaefer, Victor Ortiz will be a candidate for the opening bout should he defeat Vivian Harris on the Mosley-Mora PPV undercard this Saturday (September 18). Khan-Maidana will take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

************************************************

Finally, boxing fans get a good fight that doesn’t fall victim to contract squabbles, injuries, or a “vacation.” They did what most fighters should do, and that’s stay at the negotiation table until both sides have compromised enough to make it happen.

Like I said a few weeks ago, this is the perfect fight for Khan to silence the naysayers who believe he’s been avoiding hard punchers following the Prescott KO. Maidana is an aggressive fighter who’ll test Khan’s resolve and what he’s learned since that 2008 upset defeat.

I’m not as big on Maidana as others. A strong slugger yes, but even before his struggles with DeMarcus Corley I thought he was a notch below the elites at junior welterweight. He has the obvious puncher’s chance, but it’s not as big as some people are assuming. Andriy Kotelnik (who Khan easily defeated last year), laid a good blueprint on how a boxer can confuse the Argentinian with angles and movement. I expect Khan to do the same and not let Maidana pull him into a needless brawl.

The exciting thing for fans is that Khan cannot have any defensive lapses, no matter how many rounds he has in the bank. Victor Ortiz, for example, was doing well early on and got too comfortable. Maidana’s power promptly planted him on the canvas.

It’s still early, but who do you see taking Khan vs. Maidana?