EXCLUSIVE: Khan will fight Alexander in Dubai for welterweight title in December... with winner set for Mayweather showdown



Amir Khan is to challenge Devon Alexander for the American’s IBF world welterweight title, almost certainly in the first big fight ever to be held in the Arabian desert.



If Khan becomes a three-time world champion in the proposed venue of Dubai on December 7, he will propel himself towards a mega-millions super-fight with Floyd Mayweather next spring.



That enticing prospect of redemption for Bolton’s former Olympic silver medallist was mapped out by his US promoter during Khan’s wedding in New York this weekend.



Historic fight: Khan will take on Devon Alexander for the world welterweight title in Dubai (below) this December

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy, confirmed: ‘Amir needs one fight at welterweight, along with a title, to set up the match with Floyd. He is getting that chance against Devon, who has agreed the fight. We will be finalising and signing the contracts in the next couple of weeks.’



Schaefer will then fly to Dubai next month to examine potential venues and begin the organisation of an historic event.



He says: ‘We have opened discussions with the ruling family of the Emirates who have made it very clear that they are keen to put on a major boxing event. This is very exciting for Amir and all of us. If he defeats Devon, preferably in style, the next step for him would be against Floyd.’



On that basis Showtime, the American cable TV network who are bankrolling a record $200million-plus six-fight deal for Mayweather, are giving their seal of approval for a Khan fight.



Thus the door is open for Khan to complete a remarkable comeback from the successive defeats by Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia which cost him his previous world titles.



Mega fight: The winner of Khan v Alexander is likely to go on to face Floyd Mayweather next spring

It had been expected that Khan would bid to regain his light-welter crown against the winner of a mini-tournament of current champions which climaxed in final between Garcia and Argentinian KO merchant Lucas Matthysse.



However, as the world’s pre-eminent Muslim boxer, he is the ideal man to put prize-fighting on the map in Dubai, attracting as he does so the global attention which can prime a tilt at Mayweather, the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, in another desert… the Nevadan.



The 26-year-old Khan has put his career back on track with back-to-back wins, the second in a thriller against former world champion Julio Diaz in Sheffield at the end of April.



His wedding to 20-year-old New York beauty Faryal Makhmood, their honeymoon and his religious obligation to observe Ramadan through the end of July and the beginning of August are delaying the next, now crucial, fight until December.



Alexander is fresh from successfully defending his title in Atlantic City with a seventh-round stoppage of another English challenger, Colchester’s Lee Purdy, despite breaking a hand as early as the first round.



Last time out: Khan enjoyed a win over Julio Diaz in Sheffield recently while Alexander beat Lee Purdy (below)



Packing a punch: Alexander defeated Colchester's Lee Purdy in Atlantic City last month

However, Khan is characteristically confident of victory, saying: ‘I am sure I can beat Alexander. He is a very good boxer and worthy champion but my speed will overcome his clever, difficult, slippery style.’



Nor is Alexander a big puncher in the mould of Garcia, whose knockout win raised further criticism in some quarters as to the resilience of Khan’s chin.



Khan senses he is back on the brink of glory, as well as blazing a trail for boxing in the Arab world.



Dubai first attempted to stage a first big fight three years ago but negotiations for Mike Tyson to make a one-off comeback failed at the last moment when the former world heavyweight champion decided he would stay permanently retired.



Tyson proposed his ear-bitten nemesis, Evander Holyfield, as an alternative but that deal could not be made, either.



Now Khan can contemplate taking boxing to the Arab world. Golden Boy are eager to open up that new and potentially hugely enriching frontier.



Comeback: Khan is looking to become a three-time champion after defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson



Schaefer says: ‘This promises to be a tremendous opportunity for us and for boxing.’



Beyond that, Mayweather awaits like a holy grail shimmering in the sands of Las Vegas.



Assuming, of course, that he comes safely through what threatens to be one of the toughest fights of his recent career.



Saul Alvarez will be Floyd Jnr’s next opponent in his home-town MGM Grand Garden Arena, on September 14.



The kid called Canelo – cinnamon in English in deference to his unusual red hair - is the new folk hero of Mexican boxing, regarded now as the natural and long-awaited successor to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Snr.



Wedding joy: Khan tied the knot with beauty Faryal Makhmood in New York

Alvarez has been campaigning at light-middleweight, where he showed dramatic improvement in his technical qualities when defending his world title against Austin Trout, with no reduction in his tough, pressure-fighting aggression.

