Khan set for Salita title defence

By Nabil Hassan

Khan has won 21 of his 22 professional fights

British boxer Amir Khan is set to make the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Dmitriy Salita of the USA.

Khan's promoter Frank Warren is in talks with Salita's camp and the fight is expected to happen on 5 December.

A venue is yet to be decided as Khan prepares to defend the title he won in July when he beat Andreas Kotelnik.

"We've been in talks with them and nothing has been confirmed but I'd like to fight him," Khan told PA Sport.

"He's a mandatory (challenger) for the title, but I don't see what the big hoo-ha is about, because at the end of the day, if they really want the fight and I'm giving Salita a chance to fight for my title, I think he should grab that with both hands.

"He might never get that chance again and I think it will be a big fight. He's a number one contender and I think he's the ideal fight for me at this moment in time.

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Would this be a good fight for Khan?

"He's an American and I want to build my name up in America, so this is a fight to target."

Salita, who was born in the Ukraine, is unbeaten in 31 fights. The 27-year-old is nicknamed 'The Star of David' due to his Jewish roots and has 16 knockouts to his name.

He made his professional debut in 2001 and last fought in May, defeating American Raul Munoz on points.

"I know quite a lot about Khan. He was a good amateur and a very good technician for his age, so I expect a good fight," Salita told the Jewish Telegraph newspaper.

"He has good hand speed and movement, but there are holes in his defence and offence and I'm very confident of winning.

"I have never lost, while he was beaten quite recently, but let the best man win."

Khan, 22, defeated Ukrainian Kotelnik in Manchester with a fine performance and has lost only once in 22 professional fights.

That defeat came in September 2008 when he was knocked out inside the first minute of his WBO intercontinental lightweight title defence by Colombia's Breidis Prescott.

Bolton boxer Khan recently spoke about the possibility of fighting fellow Brit Ricky Hatton, while it was also rumoured that he was offered the chance to meet stablemate, and the recognised pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao.

But it would appear that Khan has turned down those opportunities to make a mandatory defence against Salita.