Boxing:Amir Khan will step up a division to light-welterweight and challenge for Andreas Kotelnik's WBA world title June 27th. Fresh from his win over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera last month, Khan will get his opportunity at a yet to be confirmed British venue.
"This is the best news that I could have received," Khan said today. "To fight for the world title in only my 22nd fight and at the age of just 22 is fantastic. (Promoter) Frank (Warren) has done a great job getting the world-title fight for me in Britain and now I have to go out win it."
He added: "I've seen Kotelnik a few times and I've always been impressed by him, but once my trainer Freddie Roach works out the game plan to beat him it's my job to execute it on the night as I did effectively against Barrera."
Announcing the fight, Warren said: "This is the moment that Amir has been waiting for and I'm delighted to deliver him the opportunity.
"Amir put in a sensational performance against a three-time world champion and future Hall of Famer in Barrera in only his 21st fight and now he has to produce the same form against Kotelnik who is a good, hard fighter."
Khan has campaigned predominantly in the lightweight division, winning the Commonwealth, WBO and WBA Intercontinental titles, but he moved up to 140lbs for an IBF Intercontinental title fight in December 2006 to beat Rachid Drilzane.
Kotelnik, who is from the Ukraine and based in Germany, is well known in Britain having fought there three times - in 2005 when he lost a European title fight against Junior Witter; in 2007 when he held then-WBA world champion Souleymane M'Baye to a draw; and last year when he beat Gavin Rees to win the WBA belt.
Since defeating Rees he has made two successful title defences against Norio Kimura and Marcos Rene Maidana, both on points. He has never been stopped in 34 fights.
Like Khan, he won an Olympic lightweight silver medal in his amateur days.
With Khan stepping up to 140lbs, he is now fighting at the same weight as fellow Briton Ricky Hatton.
Hatton fights Khan's training partner Manny Pacquiao in May.