Amir Khan is expected to face Juan Manuel Marquez when he makes his US debut according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

The fight is still in negotiations, but May 15 in Las Vegas has been tentatively scheduled.

The WBA light welterweight champion will face the toughest test of his career by stepping into the ring against Marquez, a world-class boxer who has been in with and beaten the best.

Marquez, who is the reigning WBA and WBO lightweight champion, will step up to light welterweight to take on Khan – 13 years his junior.

Khan, who is expected to earn in the region of £5 million, may be stripped of his WBA title for failing to meet mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana.

However, Golden Boy are hoping the WBA will be willing to compromise.

"We have made an offer to Marquez, who is thinking about it, and hopefully we will find out in the coming days," said Schaefer.

“A fight against Marquez is a breakthrough as he is one of the best and Mexico's No. one active fighter.”

He added: “Once he wins against Marquez there is the possibility of a fight against Zab Judah and then Mayweather Jnr.”

In a newspaper interview last week, Khan revealed Marquez would be his ideal opponent to make a name for himself in the US.
 
“It is my mission to fight men like Marquez and that would be my dream fight in America.”

Despite his one-sided defeat to Mayweather, Marquez remains a tough proposition at lightweight and a move up to light welterweight may not prove too much of a problem for the durable Mexican.

By choosing Marquez over Maidana, Khan may well be swapping one strong fighter for another who has more experience.