Amir Khan's next opponent 'all but set'

An announcement is due later in the week from Golden Boy Promotions finalising the details of the the non-title affair, likely to be scheduled for the 13th of December at a yet-to-be-finalised Las Vegas casino.

Khan, a former unified light-welterweight champion, has won three on the spin since losing in a unification fight with Danny Garcia in 2012, taking his record to 29-3 (19 by KO). The bout with Alexander will mark his second bout at 10st 7lbs after a dominant display in mastering Luis Collazo, the New York southpaw, in May.

Khan's long-term goals include a lucrative meeting with Floyd Mayweather, the welterweight champion of the world, and a fight with Alexander would go a long way to establishing his credentials at the weight. Both he and Alexander have notched points wins over Marcos Rene Maidana, the Argentine slugger who was Mayweather's opponent in his only two appearances this year.

Alexander, a southpaw from Saint Louis, Missouri, is 26-2 (14 KO's). His only losses came on points in a unification fight at light-welterweight versus Timothy Bradley in 2011, and a year ago in an IBF welterweight bout with Shawn Porter, the Ohioan who went on to lose the title to Sheffield's Kell Brook in August. Alexander scored a comfortable points win in his comeback bout in June, widely outscoring Mexican trial horse Jesus Soto Karass.

American puncher Keith Thurman, who holds an interim belt at the weight, is mooted to feature on the undercard. Sources say his opponent is likely to be the European champion, Leonard Bundu of Italy, seen on these shores in August outpointing Birmingham's Frankie Gavin. Thurman is 23-0 (21 early), whilst Bundu is 31-0-2 (11 stoppages).