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AMIR KHAN DUMPS FRANK WARREN

ABOVE: Amir Khan is splitting with top British promoter Frank Warren as he aims for America

17th January 2010

By Nick Parkinson

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AMIR Khan is splitting with top British promoter Frank Warren as he aims to become a mega-star in America.

The Bolton light-welterweight will make his US debut against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden on May 1.

And Khan, who has been guided by Warren since he won silver at the 2004 Olympics, will sign for American promoters Golden Boy, the Daily Star Sunday can reveal.

To ensure he fi ghts Malignaggi next in New York, he is expected give up the WBA world title that he won last year by out-pointing Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik.

Khan, 23, blasted away Yank Dmitriy Salita in 76 seconds in the fi rst defence of his WBA title in Newcastle last month – but fans will have to travel Stateside see him fight next.

The WBA governing body ordered Khan to face mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana next – but the Briton’s American trainer Freddie Roach has never been keen on facing the Argentine dangerman.

Instead, Khan has opted to fight Malignaggi, 29, who was stopped in the 11th round by Manchester’s Ricky Hatton in November 2008.

But the New Yorker has rebuilt his career since losing to The Hitman and out-pointed Juan Diaz last month.

Khan, who trains in Los Angeles with Roach, has been desperate to fight in America and will now start working with Golden Boy, the company of ex-world champ Oscar De La Hoya.

Khan will be expected to box less in Britain and more in the States. It means Khan will not be promoted by Warren for the fi rst time as a professional after 23 paid bouts. Khan follows Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton by quitting Warren as a world champ.

Warren was unavailable for comment yesterday. Khan said earlier this month: “I believe I could outbox Paulie Malignaggi. When I am in England everyone knows my name. That’s what I want in America. I want to be like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.”

Fighting Malignaggi means Khan will follow a few British boxers who have topped the bill in their first fight in America, such as ex-world leatherweight king Naseem Hamed.

‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi sees similarities between Hamed’s US debut and himself fighting Khan. Malignaggi said: “We talk about Amir like he will be England’s next superstar, like Ricky Hatton or Naseem Hamed.

“The first live fight I saw was Hamed against Kevin Kelley and I was hooked.