Amir Khan to face Samuel Vargas on route to Kell Brook showdown

Amir Khan will face Samuel Vargas at Arena Birmingham on September 8, in his second fight this year following his 39-second demolition of Phil Lo Greco in Liverpool in April after almost two years out of the ring.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Khan could face British rival Kell Brook in December if the former world champion can stay on track by overcoming Canadian-based Colombian Vargas, the 29-year-old who is ranked No 10 with the World Boxing Association at welterweight.

Khan is No 7 in the WBA rankings, with Manny Pacquiao No 1 challenger to 'Regular' champion Lucas Matthysse, who the Filipino Congressman and former eight-weight world champion faces on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur in what could be a swansong fight.

A Khan-Brook showdown, after years of enmity, is arguably the biggest fight out there for both men as they near the close of their careers.

The argument centres around the purse split and what weight they will fight at, either welterweight (147 lbs), which favours Khan, or light middleweight (154lbs), the weight at which the Sheffield fighter now campaigns.