Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KHAN: I’M A CELEBRITY.. MAKE ME WORLD CHAMPION
Amir aims to be king of jungle again after signing for Hearn
AMIR KHAN insists he can become world champion again after teaming up with his former rival Eddie Hearn.
Khan, 31, has agreed a threefight deal with Hearn’s Matchroom stable and will have his first outing in the UK for five years on April 21 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
The former WBA and IBF lightwelterweight king believes joining the promoter of his bitter rival Kell Brook can help him become world champion for a third time.
“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Matchroom,” said Khan, who has not fought since being stopped by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May 2016.
“This decision isn’t one I’ve taken lightly, as I’m at a hugelyimportant time in my career.
“But having spoken to Eddie at length, it was clear he and I were on the same page in terms of what I want to be doing and what I still want to achieve.
“I’m determined to win another world championship and I’m confident I’ve the right team behind me to help me do so.
“I’ve been out of the ring for too long and I’m desperate to make up for lost time, starting in April.”
Khan has been without a promoter since splitting from Golden Boy three years ago and has not worked with a British promoter since leaving Frank Warren in 2009.
Despite his absence from the ring and not having held a world title since 2012, his profile remains high because of his appearance on ITV’S reality show I’m A Celebrity before Christmas.
Hearn believes he can capitalise on this to relaunch his career and wants him to fight twice this year to build up to a big clash at the end of the year, possibly against Brook.
Khan has refused Hearn’s repeated offers to face the former IBF welterweight champ, but this deal means it can finally happen.
“Amir is one of the biggest names in the sport of boxings,” said Hearn. “The plan is to box in April and then again in August or September in preparation for a super fight in winter 2018.
“The target is to provide him with the biggest fights possible with a mouth-watering list of names, including the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman and Errol Spence.
“I’m excited to get started and looking forward to a huge night of boxing on April 21.”