Monday 12 September 2016 14:50, UK
WBC world welterweight champion Danny Garcia must defend his title in October to book a rematch with mandatory challenger Amir Khan.
Khan (31-4-KO19) is sidelined by a hand injury that means May's sixth-round knockout defeat to then-WBC world middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez will be his only fight this year.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview: "Unfortunately, Amir Khan has an injury in his hand that required surgery so he'll be out for the rest of the year.
I believe Garcia will be defending in October and then we'll see when Khan is ready for it.
"Khan is the mandatory for the division so we will wait until he's healed and ready to fight.
"Absolutely [Garcia will fight in the meantime]. He's a champion and can't wait for challengers to heal so Garcia will be active.
"I believe Garcia will be defending in October and then we'll see when Khan is ready for it."
Garcia (32-0-KO18) stopped Khan in the fourth round in July 2012 to unify the WBC and WBA Super world super-lightweight titles.
