Garcia’s win over Khan leaves Theophane eyeing title shot

Kiburn’s Ashley Theophane believes his case for a world title shot has been underlined by Amir Khan’s shock defeat against Danny Garcia.

The unbeaten American destroyed Khan in the fourth round of their light-welterweight unification clash in Las Vegas on Saturday – but was pushed all the way by Theophane in 2010.

Garcia won on a split points decision against the Londoner, with many believing he was fortunate to get the verdict.

Theophane also boasts victories over Delvin Rodriguez and former world champion DeMarcus Corley, who have both since secured world title challenges.

Another London boxer, Kentish Town’s Nigerian-born Ajose Olusegun, is next in line to face Garcia.

But Theophane, a product of the All Stars Boxing Gym in Westboune Park, believes his time will come.

“I feel like I’d deserve a world title shot and I’m sure in the future it will happen.” Theophane told West London Sport.

“I’m not sure about a fight with Garcia at this moment because he’s got a mandatory defence against Ajose, who I know well, and I don’t know if he’ll come through that.

“But I would definitely take the opportunity if it comes my way in the future and I deserve it.

“Even Garcia thought I won when we fought. I’ve also beaten Corley and Rodriguez – and look at the fights they’ve gone on to have.

“What the Amir Khan result showed again is that I’m a lot better than the boxing experts in Britain think I am.

“I’ve already got respect in America, but it shows the British people that I’m a fighter to be reckoned with.

“I’m seen as high-risk though, so I don’t think any of the world champions are going to want to make a voluntary defence against me.

“What I need to do is get back on the winning path and work my way up the rankings to a position of mandatory challenger.”

Theophane, often based in the United States, is scheduled to return to the ring in North Carolina on 24 August.

It will be the 31-year-old’s first outing since losing the British title to Darren Hamilton in May – a setback he does not believe will derail his world title bid.

There has even been talk of a fight between Theophane and Khan, whose frailties were badly exposed by Garcia.

But Theophane said: “I’m not going to go calling people out and kicking a man when he’s down just because he lost.

“Khan should have won that fight and I thought he would. Now he hasn’t, I still believe he’ll come back from it.

“He just fought the wrong kind of fight. Garcia is a puncher and likes people to come towards him.

“Garcia has slow feet and doesn’t like fighters who move around and box with their brain like I did against him.

“His best performances have been against people who’ve tried to be macho. The way to beat him is to use brain not brawn.”

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