Amir Khan likely to be reinstated as WBA light-welterweight champion

Amir Khan has almost got his hands back on one of the two belts he lost to Lamont Peterson last December, and is likely to go into his 14 July fight with the rising Philadelphian star, Danny García, as the World Boxing Association light-welterweight champion. It is not a scenario he would have envisaged after losing to Peterson in a controversy-mired bout in Washington five months ago, but the WBA has proved consistently supportive of him throughout, galvanised after Peterson failed a drug test in March. On Friday, its vice-president, Gilbert Mendoza, told World Boxing News: "We have sent a letter to Peterson's party requesting information on the result [of the drug tests]. There is also a hearing to deal with on 13 June in Las Vegas." In effect that confirms that the WBA is prepared to reinstate Khan as champion and, if the Washington fighter fails in his appeal, rule the Peterson bout a no-contest. The IBF, meanwhile, has been more reticent. It will make no ruling on the status of the fight until Peterson goes before the Nevada State Athletic Commission next month. Peterson has always declared he is innocent and took testosterone pellets in his hip only to treat a medical condition. The unbeaten García, meanwhile, must wait to see if he can carry his WBC belt into the Khan fight, now scheduled for the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, although he seems unconcerned about being stripped of the title for failing to defend it against the London-based Nigerian Ajose Olusegun. Golden Boy Promotions, a partner with Khan, says any unification fight overrides considerations of a mandatory defence. Khan now knows that there is probably going to be at least one title at stake.