Amir Khan has revealed that a rematch with American Lamont Peterson is ’99 per cent there’.
The British boxer lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles in Peterson’s home city of Washington back in December via a close and controversial decision over 12 rounds.
Khan was deducted two points and immediately lodged an official complaint with both the IBF and WBA. The 25 year-old has been calling for a rematch since his second pro defeat on December 10 and says he has very nearly got his wish, Peterson just needs to sign the contract.
"We’re very close now," insisted Khan. "We put an appeal in because we wanted a rematch; we felt we deserved a rematch because in the fight there was so much going on.
"We’re literally now 99 per cent there. The contract has been signed from my side. I’ve sent them off to Lamont Peterson and his team. Hopefully he can sign it, then we can get the fight on.
"It was a great fight - and I’m not taking anything away from Lamont Peterson, he’s a great fighter - but I think I deserve a rematch."
Khan added: "We sent them [the contracts] off a long time ago," he added. "I think the reason [for the delay] is because he knows he would get beaten. He wants to probably hold on to the titles and have a few more defences to make a bit more money.
"But the deal that we have offered him...we’ve offered him a massive deal, but he’s not responded back. If they don’t want to take the fight then I will just move on. I’ll probably move up a division at 147lbs. There are a few names we’re looking at there.
"We’ve given him an amazing deal, we’ve offered him 50 per cent of the world revenue, whereas before he got a lot less when he fought me the first time. I want this fight again, I want to prove I won the first fight and I’ll prove it in the second fight by knocking him out."
February 9, 2012
