Amir Khan vs Vargas at Arena Birmingham on September 8

Samuel Vargas says he has the power to knockout Amir Khan when the pair clash at Arena Birmingham on September 8, live on Sky Sports.

Vargas is ranked number 9 in the WBA and knows that a win over the former unified World Champion will rocket his name into World title contention in the Welterweight division.

The 29-year-old Canadian based Columbian doesn’t believe that Khan managed to shake off any ring rust in his first round destruction of Phil Lo Greco in April and has warned the UK favourite to prepare for a punishing battle.

“If I touch him on the chin, he’s going down,” said Vargas.

“That’s a guarantee. I’m sure it’s going to be a hostile territory, but I’ll impose my will on him. He’s an old man. He’s been hurt before and he’s been stopped many times.

“I just have to land one punch on his chin, left or right hand. His feet will go all over the place and if he’s still there I’ll hit him again and again. It’s there, everyone knows it’s there.

“If he’s expecting another 39 second blow out then he’s going to be in for a big shock. He’s been stopped really badly a couple of times, so we know it’s always there and we have 36 minutes to do it.

“Genetically, we’re not supposed to receive that much punishment and get back up. Your body can only take so much before it gives out. Maybe this is the fight for him. He’s older, he’s received a lot of punishment, he’s got a lot of mileage on him, so I just have to go out there and expose him.”

Vargas has fought both Errol Spence Jr and Danny Garcia, losing to both. He will be looking to make it third time lucky when he takes on another elite fighter in Khan next month, who he feels he is being overlooked by.

“I’ve been in there with the best, obviously I didn’t get the results that I wanted but those defeats have been my biggest lessons. I work hard and I sacrifice a lot. I’m just a regular guy that decided not to quit and not to give up, to get up and to keep on going and here I am. That’s why I was given this opportunity.

“All of the pressure is on him. I just need to let him know that he is the smaller man and let him know that I’m dictating the pace of the fight. This is all or nothing for me. It’s either win this fight or win this fight. I have no choice. For him it’s just like, ‘I need to get through this guy and then I get the big fight’. That’s how he sees it. For me this is everything.”

Khan’s clash with Vargas tops a packed card in the second city, as Jason Welborn defends his British Middleweight title in a rematch with Tommy Langford, whom he snatched the title from in May via split decision in Walsall.

Ryan Kelly defends the Midlands Area Super-Welterweight title he won in May via stoppage at Villa park against unbeaten Dordon man Kelcie Ball, Stourbridge banger Sam Eggington appears on the bill with Super-Bantamweight star Gamal Yafai, while Geordie Lightweight ace Lewis Ritson keeps busy ahead of his return to the Metro Radio Arena on October 13. Preston Super-Welterweight Scott Fitzgerald takes on Ludlow’s Craig Morris over ten, Leeds Super-Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq faces Southampton’s Ricky Little, with action elsewhere from Northampton Middleweight Keiron Conway, Belfast Lightweight Sean McComb, Bolton Super-Bantamweight Osman Aslam, Gloucester Super-Lightweight Akeem Ennis Brown and Birmingham Cruiserweight Shakan Pitters.

Tickets priced £40, £60, £80 and £100 are available from www.arenabham.co.uk and www.stubhub.co.uk

Amir Khan will face Samuel Vargas at Arena Birmingham on September 8, live on Sky Sport

Khan is back in action following his blistering return to the ring in April in Liverpool, destroying Phil Lo Greco in just 39 seconds after nearly two years out of action.

The former unified Super-Lightweight ruler is setting his sights on Welterweight World honours this year and steps up that pursuit in Birmingham when he meets Canadian based Colombian Vargas, the 29 year old ranked number 10 in the WBA and having shared the ring with current IBF king Errol Spence and Khan’s old foe Danny Garcia.

“One of my aims this year was to be as active as possible so I’m very happy to be back in the ring again so soon against Samuel Vargas,” said Khan.

“Vargas is a tough and well-schooled fighter who has shared the ring with some top welterweights including Danny Garcia and Errol Spence Jr.

“I have to get past Vargas before looking at the biggest challenges going forward. I’m not going to be taking Vargas lightly because I know he will be coming with everything on September 8.

“I hope to give the fans in Birmingham the same excitement and fireworks as my last fight. It will be one not to miss!”

“I am excited to step in the ring with Amir Khan on September 8,” said Vargas. “I am very pleased that my promoter Lee Baxter and Eddie Hearn from Matchroom Boxing could come to an arrangement fairly easily and make this fight happen.

“I have been granted more than enough time to properly prepare for Amir and you will see the best Samuel Vargas to date. Mark my words, we might both be from the same city and county but I am nothing like Phil Lo Greco that’s a guarantee – I’m going to give Amir hell.”

Khan’s clash with Vargas will top a packed card in the second city, as Jason Welborn defends his British Middleweight title in a rematch with Tommy Langford, whom he snatched the title from in May via split decision in Walsall.

Ryan Kelly defends the Midlands Area Super-Welterweight title he won in May via stoppage at Villa park against unbeaten Dordon man Kelcie Ball, Stourbridge banger Sam Eggington and Super-Bantamweight star Gamal Yafai appear on the bill after boxing this coming Saturday, with more title fights and stars to be added.

Tickets are priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 VIP and go on sale to Matchroom Fight Pass at 1pm on Thursday June 28 from www.StubHub.co.uk