Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri Announced: Date, Comments, Reaction for Fight

After keeping the boxing world on edge, Amir Khan has finally announced that his next opponent will be Chris Algieri on May 29.

The two will meet for Premier Boxing Champions, which will air on Spike TV.

Algieri commented on the matchup in a statement, via Newsday.com:

"Fighting at Barclays Center, where I won my world title just under a year ago, is an added bonus," Algieri said in a statement. "Amir Khan is a tested champion and is the matchup that I wanted. I believe this is a fight that will bring the best out of me."

Khan also spoke about the matchup and his opponent's skill set in the statement:

"Algieri has shared the ring with some tremendous fighters and shown great skills in those fights so I know I will need to be at my very best when we meet," Khan said. "In all my fights I bring excitement, speed and skill and can guarantee more fireworks on May 29 at Barclays Center."  

Khan originally made the announcement in a video on YouTube in which he also discussed the career accomplishments of Algieri, who is coming off of a loss against Manny Pacquiao last November:

While Khan didn't have any other specifics about the fight, he did say that he likes New York because it's "a good venue for me," and his fans from England will have a shorter distance to travel than if it were to happen in Las Vegas. 

Michael Woods of The Ring, in addition to noting the Barclays Center as the preferred destination, pointed out that Khan hasn't fought in New York since 2010:

The selection of Algieri does suggest a reversal of sorts for Khan, who was also speculated to be considering a bout against Adrien Broner. In fact, the 25-year-old posted an Instagram video in which he was talking to Khan about a fight. 

It's also a disappointing conclusion for the boxing world. Algieri has a good record at 20-1, but he's not regarded in the same category as Khan or Broner, prompting this response from Sheldan Keay of the Manchester Evening News:

Fellow boxer Kell Brook expressed his displeasure at the decision, according to the Press Association (via The Guardian):

"

“If someone said to me you can get five million quid, a world title, fight at Wembley with a fight that every fan wants to see, it’s a no-brainer for me,” 28-year-old Brook told BBC 5 Live.

“He’s fighting Algieri who didn’t win a round against Pacquiao, a feather puncher, not a big puncher. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“I’m world champion, I’m calling him out, we want the fight, there’s a world title and a bagful of money and it doesn’t make sense that he’s fighting this guy who’s bringing nothing to the table.

“He’s said he’ll fight me before but when it comes to it, I don’t get why he doesn’t want to fight me.”

Asked if he felt frustrated, Brook replied: “yes, wherever I go it’s always ‘Amir Khan, when are you going to fight him?’ He’s delicate around the whiskers, he knows I’m a big strong welterweight and I’m coming for that chin of his.”

"

One possible reason for the underwhelming choice by Khan is he was hoping to get a shot at either Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather before those two agreed to a fight on May 2, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. Taking a fight virtually everyone will expect him to win keeps the 28-year-old in line to fight either Pacquiao or Mayweather later this year. 

Whatever reasons Khan truly has for agreeing to fight Algieri, at least he's finally made a decision and can focus on getting his body ready for May 30. Weird things tend to happen in sports when a matchup looks lopsided, so Algieri should be given a puncher's chance.