After two months of legal wrangling and speculation, it was announced earlier today that Amir Khan will get the chance to regain his IBF and WBA junior welterweight titles from America's Lamont Peterson. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told Sky Sports News that both Khan and Peterson had agreed terms to meet in a rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on May 19. Khan lost his titles in controversial circumstances last December in Washington DC - Peterson won the fight on a split decision after Khan was deducted two points for pushing, including one in the 12th round.

Following the first fight, Khan and Golden Boy Promotions launched appeals with the IBF, WBA and Washington State Athletic Commission, questioning the performance of referee Joseph Cooper, who aside from the points deductions also chose not to score an early knocked down for Khan, claiming it to be a push. 

The fight itself was a thriller. 25-year-old Khan [26-2, 18 KOs] came flying out of the blocks and floored Peterson in the first round. The Brit initially looked way too fast for 28-year-old Peterson [30-1-1, 15 KOs], and threatened to overwhelm him with the sheer volume of his punches. However, the American is a notoriously slow starter, and famously came back from two early knockdowns to battle future WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz to a draw in 2010.

From the second round on, the American began to come into the fight, and the action seesawed between the two combatants for the rest of the contest. Both fighters were tagged and hurt often, and while Khan was clearly the more technically skilled of the two, Peterson had the edge in strength and punching power. The fight was desperately close, with this writer giving it to Peterson.

 

The WBA confirmed in January that they wanted Peterson to make his first defense against Khan. Initially, Peterson launched his own counter appeal with the WBA. However earlier today Schaefer confirmed that Peterson had signed a contract for the rematch, and the two can now settle their differences in Las Vegas in May.

''We have a deal, we are all set. This is going to be a big fight and I mean a very, very big fight!'' Schaefer told Sky Sports News.

''The first fight was a terrific, all action fight. There was a lot of controversy and questions surrounding this fight. This one will hopefully clear up all those question marks. This is going to be a big, big night for boxing.''

In interviews following his victory, the likeable Peterson claimed he was more than happy to give Khan a rematch. There was some speculation that the Washington born fighter could have been selected to face Manny Pacquiao in June, or even meet WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley - the only man to have beaten him as a professional - in a unification fight. Ironically, it was Bradley who was given the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, thus smoothing the way for a Khan Peterson rematch.

''I'm happy that Lamont Peterson realized this is the fight the world of boxing wants.'' continued Schaefer. ''These two guys fighting each other again is going to be one of the biggest fights in any weight class which can be made.''

Aside from questioning the referee's performance on the night, Khan's camp also alluded to skulduggery amongst the ringside judges [one of the scorecards had been clearly altered] and a mysterious black hatted figure seen hanging around at ringside, later confirmed to be an IBF official.

On the subject of ringside security, Schaefer added:

''Security will be very tight and Las Vegas is probably the best commission in the world and I know they're going to make sure that everything is going to be totally above board. I've already had conversations with Las Vegas commissioners to make sure that it is going to be absolutely neutral ground for both fighters.''

''We won't be seeing any men in hats sitting at the scorer's table!''

Big Fight Odds: Amir Khan 1/5, Lamont Peterson 7/2 bet365