Amir Khan Back on July 7 or 14, Opponent and Venue To Be Decided

Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions says that Amir Khan will return on July 7 or 14, with opponent and venue yet to be decided. Khan was set to face Lamont Peterson at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on May 19, but that fight was canceled after Peterson failed a VADA drug test.

It's hard to figure out which date may be favorited. HBO is reportedly in talks to feature Nonito Donaire vs Cristian Mijares on July 7, which is a Top Rank show, and the Mandalay Bay is booked that night for UFC 148. July 7 would also mean that Sky Sports would have an almost over-the-top night of boxing, with Kell Brook vs Carson Jones and Wladimir Klitschko vs Tony Thompson II already scheduled for that date.

But July 14 has a Juan Manuel Marquez show tentatively set for Cowboys Stadium. Even if that goes to pay-per-view, HBO would most likely be serving as distributor, as they did for the April 14 PPV show. That show is also a Top Rank venture. The only truly open date on HBO in July is July 28, but that night, Golden Boy is promoting a Showtime-televised card in San Jose, featuring Robert Guerrero's comeback.

Long story short, someone's going to be bumped, or someone's going to wind up pissed off at HBO, because there doesn't appear a totally smooth route to getting Khan on HBO in July, other than perhaps doing a split site show with Adrien Broner's return in Cincinnati. Broner, who was to face Gary Sykes on May 19, has been moved to a July 21 date on HBO, most likely against Vicente Escobedo.

Khan (26-2, 18 KO) also has no opponent, and the only name floated thus far has been Danny Garcia, which could happen but would likely require Garcia to vacate his WBC belt at 140 pounds, thus avoiding a fight with Ajose Olusegun.

An announcement on all of this should be made soon, given the timeframe of setting him up to fight in early-to-mid July.