The 27 year-old Brit had been in the running to oppose Mayweather himself before Maidana swooped in to scoop the coveted spot opposite the world’s best fighter, but Khan could land Mayweather in September with a win over Collazo.
The fight will mark Khan’s official move up to 147lbs from his successful stint at light-welterweight where the former Olympic silver medallist once reigned as unified king of the division.
Opponent Collazo, 32, will enter the fray at a top PPV bill for the first time since losing to Shane Mosley for the interim WBC title in 2007 and is in great form following his demolition job on Victor Ortiz in January. Three straight win preceded the Ortiz knockout and the former WBA king at 147 may well start as favourite against Khan, who hasn’t has the ideal preparation for a jump up in poundage.
‘King Khan’ was defeated by current 140lb champions Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, before overcoming predominant lightweight Carlos Molina with ease and just scraping past ex-135lb king Julio Diaz almost a year ago.
The Bolton man will make his ringwalk in the late spring on the back of a thirteen month absence from the sport – having pulled out of a world title shot against Devon Alexander scheduled for December. His expectation that the Mayweather fight was in the bag ultimately proved wrong and Khan knows it’s all on the line against Collazo if he harbours any hopes of eventually claiming a future fight with the ‘Money’ man.
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