Amir Khan may have lost his two world titles to Lamont Peterson on Saturday, but steps are already being taken to give Khan the opportunity to win them back after both fighters agreed in principle to a rematch.

Khan suffered only the second defeat of his professional career, losing his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles, in a hard-fought battle against Peterson in the latter’s home city of Washington DC. The fight wasn’t without controversy and that came in the form of local referee Joe Cooper who deducted Khan a point in round seven and again in round 11 for pushing.

Ultimately, the point deductions decided the fight’s outcome as Peterson was awarded the split-decision victory by only a single point.

Aside from the scoring, the bout was an all-action thriller; a pinch of the sweet science mixed in with a hefty brawl and served up with a good measure of machismo. Both Khan and Peterson knew they had been in a fight and both are ready to do it all again immediately. The new champion insisted that if the right deal was made he would also travel to England and face Khan in his backyard.

However, a UK fight is unlikely as US broadcaster HBO is reportedly already looking at Las Vegas on March 31 for what is now a highly anticipated rematch.

Khan, 25, said: “He won the fight, I’m ready for a rematch. I came to DC, lets take the fight to the UK and see if he has the same balls as me.”

He added: “A rematch is what we’re looking at. I want it straight away. I want it my next fight, I want my two titles back. We know who won that fight.”

Peterson was confident of his victory and the manner in which he achieved it. So much so that when quizzed about when a rematch would take place he answered coolly, “If it was up to me, I’d fight him tomorrow.”

The rematch may not have taken place the day after, but Oscar de la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions will ensure it goes ahead in order to get their star, Amir Khan, back on the right track and bring in the more lucrative fights.