Boxer Danny Garcia walks back to his trainer during his workout in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Garcia is scheduled to face Amir Khan on Saturday in a bout in Las Vegas. AP /Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jason Bean
LAS VEGAS — The WBA is reinstating British boxer Amir Khan as its junior welterweight champion, just in time for a 140-pound unification bout this weekend in Las Vegas with WBC champion Danny Garcia.
Nevada State Athletic Commission executive Keith Kizer said he learned Wednesday that Saturday’s Khan-Garcia matchup at the Mandalay Bay Events Center will be a WBA-WBC unification fight.
The WBA announced Wednesday that Khan was being given back the crown he lost to Lamont Peterson in a disputed split decision last December in Washington, D.C.
Peterson later failed a doping test and a May rematch against Khan in Las Vegas was canceled.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, who represents Khan, says the move also ensures that the two best fighters at 145 pounds will fight for Ring Magazine’s championship belt.