In the last 15 years Frank Warren has watched weakly as his world champions Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe all left his promotional help to control their profession and it now looks like Amir Khan has done the same.

Khan has decided a promotional deal with Oscar De La Hoya's company Golden Boy and is predicted to fight Hatton victim Paulie Malignaggi, and almost definitely without the World Boxing Association belt that Warren helped him win. Warren was unavailable for comment yesterday, but he spoke last week: "I said I would make him a title holder and I did. I just hope that people don't suffer amnesia."

The move means three of Britain's top four fighters are among Golden Boy. Khan joins David Haye and Hatton, leaving only Carl Froch in behalf of British control.

A purse offer for Khan's defence against Argentina's Marcos Rene Maidana was due to be accomplished in Caracas today, but that fight and the WBA light-welterweight title now look intended to be scrapped. Khan will lose the belt outside the ring if he goes further on with the Malignaggi fight.