The word coming out of England is apparently true. WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan is ready to build his name in America. Promoter Lou DiBella advised BoxingScene.com that he was contacted by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who advised him that he signed Khan to a promotional contract. Schaefer asked DiBella if he was interested in making a fight between Khan and former 140-pound champion Paulie Malignaggi.

DiBella is interested in making the fight, but he doesn't like how Malignaggi is being treated by Khan and his team. He thinks Golden Boy should build Khan's name in the United States before a Malignaggi fight is seriously explored. This only indicates that Khan is likely not going to make his mandatory defense against interim-champion Marcos Maidana. There had been speculation for weeks that Khan, a promotional free agent, would go to Golden Boy instead of re-signing with British promoter Frank Warren.

"I did get a call from Richard Schaefer, who did tell me that he signed Amir Khan and asked if there was interest in having Paulie as Amir's opponent in the United States. If I was offering Amir Khan vs. Paulie, would HBO buy it or would it be where I don't have a date. The only place where that fight makes financial sense would be in Madison Square Garden - and with all due respect I am more than capable of promoting in New York. Khan means nothing in America so he can't come over here and treat Paulie like some opponent," DiBella said to BoxingScene.com.

"He's just a British fighter who was knocked out in one round by Breidis Prescott. Why should we be jumping over ourselves for Amir Khan? He beats a guy like Dmitriy Salita but when he's faced with a real challenge [Marcos] in Maidana, he would rather give up the title. I'm not taking anything away from him. He does have a lot of talent but he has to come over here and earn it like everyone else. He is not Naseem Hamed who came over here with all of extravaganza, the lights and the dancing. He's just a young fighter. I think he's talented but he doesn't walk over here like he's the star. I hate to break it to him but if he faces Paulie - he is not the A-side. He may be a superstar in England but that doesn't translate over here. If they continue to treat Paulie like an opponent, the fight won't happen."