Terence Crawford to bout Amir Khan as Briton agrees shot at WBO world welterweight champion

Amir Khan has agreed to face undefeated WBO world welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the United States on 20 April.

The 32-year-old Khan returned to the game last April after 23 months away from boxing and secured two wins in 2018.

The Briton received an offer to face domestic rival Kell Brook in a bout, which his team had revealed would prove more financially rewarding.

However, Khan will instead be a heavy underdog against Crawford, 31, who has held world titles in three divisions. 

Early next week, a news conference is due to take place to outline a venue, either in New York or Las Vegas. 

Both are cities in which Khan has fought before, but this time, he will fancy his chance against an American widely regarded as one of the sport's best pound-for-pound fighters.

Crawford, who was born in Omaha, has held world titles at lightweight, super-lightweight and welterweight, and has already been installed as 1-10 favourite with some bookmakers.

More notably in 2017, he was an undisputed champion at super-lightweight when he overcame Julius Indongo to hold all four world titles in the division.

In June, he moved up to the 147lb welterweight class to take his current title from Australia's Jeff Horn, and his most recent stoppage win in October over Jose Benavidez Jr took his record to 25 knockouts from 34 wins.

In some quarters, Khan has faced disapproval for his September points victory over Samuel Vargas, where he was knocked down before recovering to take his record to 33 wins and four defeats. 

And Crawford, who boxes from the tricky southpaw stance, depicts a huge step up as Khan bids to become a world champion for a second time having held titles at super-lightweight between 2009 and 2011.