Amir Khan reinstated as WBA champion ahead of unification bout with Danny Garcia

World Boxing Association officials have returned the belt to Khan following the controversial loss to Lamont Peterson last year, and the cancellation of a planned rematch.

Amir Khan at a public workout ahead in Las Vegas ahead of his unification fight with Danny Garcia

Amir Khan will walk into the ring this weekend a world champion once again after the World Boxing Association confirmed he has been reinstated to the light-welterweight throne.

Khan will meet unbeaten American Danny Garcia, the reigning World Boxing Council champion, on Saturday to unify the crowns in a showdown that was booked after a planned Khan rematch against Lamont Peterson was called off.

Peterson defeated Khan last December in a controversial split decision where the Englishman had two points deducted by referee Joe Cooper for shoving, lost points that cost Khan the decision and two world titles.

A rematch was planned but scuttled when Peterson tested positive for abnormally high levels of testosterone and later admitted he had been taking testosterone treatments.

Khan pushed to have the result struck and his titles reinstated. The first move in that direction came on Wednesday when the WBA returned its title to Khan, although the International Boxing Federation has not followed suit and the result has not been changed to no contest.

Khan, 26-2 with 18 knockouts, confirmed the WBA title reinstatement in a Twitter posting and said on his website that he was especially excited it happened before the fight against Garcia, 23-0 with 14 knockouts.

"This is a really important fight for me and one that I'm not overlooking," Khan said. "I have always wanted to add the WBC belt to my collection and to have it on the line with my old WBA belt makes this fight even more special.

"Saturday is going be a great night for British boxing and I'm going be coming home with the belts."

Follow us