Can Khan Turn The Tables On Peterson In Las Vegas?

Last week it was announced that Bolton’s Amir Khan has been given an opportunity to regain both his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation Light Welterweight titles against the American Lamont Peterson, which shall take place on the 15th May at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The decision from the WBA and the IBF to order an immediate rematch between the two men comes after Khan and his promoter Golden Boy Promotions had alleged that there were scoring irregularities and that Khan unfairly had points taken off him from for pushing by referee Joseph Cooper.

This would have seen the original split decision against him by a point on two judge’s scorecards turned into a split decision in Khan’s favour had Cooper not given the points deductions.

It is also important to state that since this fight in December, Cooper has not been allowed to referee a bout regardless of its importance and duration since that night in December in Washington DC and that Cooper had only previously refereed five recognized world title contests.

The decision to host this fight in a neutral state such as Nevada should hopefully ensure that no such tampering and interference of the officials may occur and that also a referee who has more experience in working a major world title fight, such as Kenny Bayless or Joe Cortez, for example, will be employed as well as experienced judges.

It will be clear that Khan shall be fully motivated to regain the world titles that he felt he was robbed of by Peterson in Washington and Khan could even looking for a knockout to ensure he does not lose out again on the scorecards regardless of the fact the rematch will be undertaken in Las Vegas and Peterson is also confident of a win as well.

This will hopefully serve up another fight of the year candidate that Khan has been involved in, and that from a British perspective will hopefully see Khan crowned as the King of the Light-Welterweights.