Khan to face Zab Judah in Las Vegas on July 23rd

Amir Khan is to take part in a unification match in the States on July 23rd - but his opponent is not the one he originally expected. Bolton's WBA light-welterweight champion will fight IBF titlist Zab Judah after protracted negotiations with WBO and WBC champion Timothy Bradley came to nothing.

Judah, a four-time world champion and a belt holder at light-welter as far back as 2000, will fill the opposite corner at the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas.  Judah originally wanted a 50-50 split and an Atlantic City venue but he conceded the latter and agreed on a 55-45 division in Khan's favour.

Mexican legend Erik Morales, who took Marcos Maidana the distance in April, reportedly turned down a $1.5 million offer to face Khan.

Judah, 33, seems to have been around for ever. He first won the belt he now has eleven years ago and his first defence was a wide points win over a tepid Junior Witter. He achieved notoriety for attacking referee Jay Nady after he was (rightly) stopped in the second round of a unifcation match in November 2001 against Kostya Tszyu.