Sports
WBA Reinstates Khan As Champion
Amir Khan has had his WBA light-welterweight belt reinstated by the governing body and will put it on the line when he fights WBC champion Danny Garcia in Las Vegas last weekend.
The Briton lost his WBA and IBF belts to Lamont Peterson in December in controversial circumstances.
A rematch was cancelled when Peterson failed a drugs test.
“Justice has been done,” Khan said. “It means this fight (against Ga
rcia) will show who is the best in the division.”
Khan appealed following the points defeat against Peterson, with the WBA saying there were “multiple irregularities” in the fight.
The Bolton-born boxer said: “I’m glad the WBA are reinstating me as champion; it means I walk into this fight as world champion.
“There is a chance to win the WBC belt as well but, not only that, the Ring magazine title will be on the line. There are five main belts in this division and I will have won four of them if I win this fight.
“The only one I have not won is the WBO one, but I tried to fight Tim Bradley for that and he turned me down. If I win against Garcia, it means I have done everything I want to do in this division.”
With the WBA title now on the line, the light-welterweight title fight against Garcia gains added significance.
Khan claims his contest easily eclipses David Haye’s heavyweight clash with Dereck Chisora in London on the same night.
The Haye-Chisora bout has attracted a lot of interest following their much-publicised brawl in Munich in February.
“Boxing fans know my fight is bigger,” Khan told Tidesports source. “There’s a world title on the line.”
Former WBA world heavyweight champion Haye has come out of retirement to fight Chisora at Upton Park in a meeting arranged after the pair brawled in a media conference following Chisora’s loss to WBC champion Vitali Kitchsko.
Chisora was subsequently suspended by British boxing authorities and the feud continued to attracted attention when the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction the fight.
The contest is expected to attract a crowd of more than 28,000, but Khan has played down its significance.
“David is a friend of mine but the fight is not a big fight,” he said. “There are no titles on the line and I don’t think Chisora is in the top 10 in the world.
“I’m in the capital of boxing in Las Vegas. It makes my fight a lot bigger. And the guy I’m fighting Danny Garcia is in the top 10 in the world.”
Khan has spoken of his confidence ahead of facing Garcia, something he puts down to a new training regime.
The Bolton-fighter has enlisted the services of strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares, who has introduced some unusual practices into Khan’s preparations.
“He’s made me change to a non-fluoride toothpaste because apparently fluoride is really dangerous, contains rat poison or something and can even kill you,” Khan explained.
“I’m one of those guys who listens to what my trainers tell me – even if it sounds a little bit strange sometimes – and I do it anyway.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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