Massive challenge as Khan takes on Crawford

Amir Khan will challenge the outstanding WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford on April 20.

The 32-year-old rejected terms to finally meet his rival Kell Brook to instead pursue one of the world’s finest fighters and what could prove his defining fight at either Las Vegas’ MGM Grand or Madison Square Garden in New York.

Khan, last a world champion in 2012, will again be trained by the respected Virgil Hunter after two victories with Joe Goosen.

With the fight venue and a British television broadcaster to be confirmed in the coming fortnight, Khan said: “It’ll be nice to get back with Virgil. Joe was also a great trainer (but) I’ve had a great career with Virgil.

“I’m going to have to be in the best shape ever to win”

“The only fight we lost together was against Canelo (Saul Alvarez, the Mexican middleweight); the bigger, stronger guy, but I was out-boxing him until he caught me.

“I’m going to have to be in the best shape ever to win this fight. It’s going to be a very, very hard fight.

“But I’m unbeaten in the 147lb division; I’ve had my best performances there, against Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander.”

Crawford, 31, is widely considered one of the world’s top three fighters having in 2017 unified all four light-welterweight world titles, and he said: “You could say this is my hardest fight.

“Amir is still dangerous, still fast, still got the experience and has been a welterweight longer than me.

“But there’s never been a fighter I couldn’t figure out and right now I’m better than anyone he’s faced before.”