bretttina
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Amir Khan is stranded in Vancouver as his visa is quized....
Khan is due to defend the WBA 140lb title against Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 at Madison Square Garden, but had to transfer to Vancouver from the Los Angeles boxing gym of trainer Freddie Roach a week ago after an application for his work visa for the contest became an issue.
Khan was forced to leave and go to Canada to re-apply for the work permit.
Frank Maloney punches above his weight It is believed the delay may have been caused after US officials scrutinised Khan’s motoring offences in the UK.
In October 2007 Khan, then 20, was convicted of careless driving after he went through a red light and injured a pedestrian. He was driving his £87,000 BMW convertible in Bradshawgate, Bolton, when he struck Geoffrey Hatton on a pelican crossing.
Mr Hatton, 55, suffered a broken leg in the incident. Khan was cleared of dangerous driving, but found guilty of careless driving. He was given a six-month driving ban and fined £1,000.
Three months later he was back in court to face magistrates for an earlier offence of speeding. A police officer said his own speedometer was "off the clock" at 155mph as he pursued the boxer on the M62 motorway near Rochdale. He was fined £1,000 and banned for 42 days for speeding in his BMW.
Last summer, Khan, 22, was behind the wheel of his Range Rover when he was involved in an accident with a cyclist. A spokesman for the police later added that no further action would be taken against Khan.
The delay in the visa has meant that Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer, yesterday flew to Vancouver from his base at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood to ensure that Khan’s preparations are kept on track ahead of a vital contest in his career, as he attempts to win over US boxing fans. Khan-Malignaggi will be screened on US cable giants HBO, while it is expected that an announcement is imminent for ITV to show the contest in the UK.
According to a source at Golden Boy Promotions, Khan’s handlers in the US, it may be up as long as a week before the work visa could be issued from the US Consulate in Vancouver.
Robert Diaz, the matchmaker for Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, said: “Amir Khan has had to go to Vancouver, and it is due to a few incidents when he was younger, but we are completely confident that he will be in New York to defend his title ahead of the fight with Malignaggi.
“Khan is a professional, and he has maintained his focus throughout the events that have taken place. Freddie Roach has gone up to Vancouver because it has taken longer to sort this out than we at first thought.”
An added twist to the May 15 event is that Colombian Breidis Prescott, Khan’s nemesis 17 months ago, has been added to the Madison Square Garden undercard.
Prescott was beaten by East Londoner Kevin Mitchell in Newcastle last December, propelling his career forward. Mitchell now faces Michael Katsidis for the interim World Boxing Organisation lightweight title on May 15, at Upton Park, hours before Khan, visa permitting, will meet Malignaggi.
Khan is due to defend the WBA 140lb title against Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 at Madison Square Garden, but had to transfer to Vancouver from the Los Angeles boxing gym of trainer Freddie Roach a week ago after an application for his work visa for the contest became an issue.
Khan was forced to leave and go to Canada to re-apply for the work permit.
Frank Maloney punches above his weight It is believed the delay may have been caused after US officials scrutinised Khan’s motoring offences in the UK.
In October 2007 Khan, then 20, was convicted of careless driving after he went through a red light and injured a pedestrian. He was driving his £87,000 BMW convertible in Bradshawgate, Bolton, when he struck Geoffrey Hatton on a pelican crossing.
Mr Hatton, 55, suffered a broken leg in the incident. Khan was cleared of dangerous driving, but found guilty of careless driving. He was given a six-month driving ban and fined £1,000.
Three months later he was back in court to face magistrates for an earlier offence of speeding. A police officer said his own speedometer was "off the clock" at 155mph as he pursued the boxer on the M62 motorway near Rochdale. He was fined £1,000 and banned for 42 days for speeding in his BMW.
Last summer, Khan, 22, was behind the wheel of his Range Rover when he was involved in an accident with a cyclist. A spokesman for the police later added that no further action would be taken against Khan.
The delay in the visa has meant that Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer, yesterday flew to Vancouver from his base at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood to ensure that Khan’s preparations are kept on track ahead of a vital contest in his career, as he attempts to win over US boxing fans. Khan-Malignaggi will be screened on US cable giants HBO, while it is expected that an announcement is imminent for ITV to show the contest in the UK.
According to a source at Golden Boy Promotions, Khan’s handlers in the US, it may be up as long as a week before the work visa could be issued from the US Consulate in Vancouver.
Robert Diaz, the matchmaker for Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, said: “Amir Khan has had to go to Vancouver, and it is due to a few incidents when he was younger, but we are completely confident that he will be in New York to defend his title ahead of the fight with Malignaggi.
“Khan is a professional, and he has maintained his focus throughout the events that have taken place. Freddie Roach has gone up to Vancouver because it has taken longer to sort this out than we at first thought.”
An added twist to the May 15 event is that Colombian Breidis Prescott, Khan’s nemesis 17 months ago, has been added to the Madison Square Garden undercard.
Prescott was beaten by East Londoner Kevin Mitchell in Newcastle last December, propelling his career forward. Mitchell now faces Michael Katsidis for the interim World Boxing Organisation lightweight title on May 15, at Upton Park, hours before Khan, visa permitting, will meet Malignaggi.
