Amir Khan reinstated as WBA light welterweight – Boxing News
British-Pakistani fighter Amir Khan has been reinstated as the WBA light welterweight champion, a statement from the World Boxing Association confirmed. Lamont Peterson was stripped off the title earlier this month, and now the association has decided to
crown Khan with it.
“The World Championships Committee of the World Boxing Association officially announced today its decision to reinstate the British boxer Amir Khan as Super Champion who may be able to unify title with Danny Garcia on Saturday July 14,” WBA’s statement read.
“'This decision was taken after the positive doping result of the American Lamont Peterson, confirmed by the medical experts,” the statement further read.
WBA’s statement also revealed that the rules of the association dictate that any fighter who is tested positive for drugs cannot retain his title or be permitted to fight for a title, for at least six months from the date of the positive test.
The entire scenario of Lamont Peterson’s positive drug test earlier this year took Khan’s camp by storm. The Bolton proud was astonished to learn that Peterson was on drugs when he lost to him. However, now Khan is pleased to know that the WBA has done what
was necessary in order to keep the sport clean.
Earlier this month, Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, revealed that the WBA has stripped off Lamont Peterson’s title. However, there was no verbal or written confirmation by any of the situation until now.
Instead of assuring that Peterson has been stripped off and the title is vacant, the WBA went a step further and announced Khan as the reinstated champion.
The news is definitely good for Khan, as he will be entering the ring against Danny Garcia, the WBC light welterweight champion, as the WBA light welterweight titlist. In other words, the title unification bout has now turned into a title defence bout for
both the fighters.
Amir Khan will be facing Danny Garcia on July 14 at the Mandalay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The match was already a highly anticipated one, and now fuel has been added to the fire making it one of the most enthralling fights of this year.
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