Amir Khan will make the first defence of his world title against Dmitriy Salita at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday 5th December 2009.

Khan, who won the WBA light-welterweight belt in July with a punch-perfect performance over Andreas Kotelnik, faces a hard first defence against the new star of American boxing.

Salita, the mandatory challenger for Khan's title, was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, when he was nine years old. He is an observant Jew and strictly follows Jewish law so if he fights on a Saturday then it must begin after sundown, the end of the sabbath.

He famously said, "Anyone who wants a good whuppin' from me is just going to have to wait until sundown."

This will be Khan's first fight in Newcastle and Warren has taken his biggest stars to the big-fight city in the past including Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton.

Warren said, "For Amir's first defence this is a very tough fight for him and he's taking on a fighter that the American media are really building up at the moment,"

"Salita's got a great record, he's unbeaten and carries a big punch and of course he will pose a threat to Amir, but Amir's a world class fighter and has to deal with these challengers,"

"I've promoted a lot of shows in Newcastle with all the big names like Naz, Calzaghe, Hatton and Benn and I'm delighted to bring Amir to the city for the first time,"

"The public there are big sports fans and love the big events and it's great to bring them a fight like Khan v Salita."

It's the end-of-the-year boxing extravaganza showcasing the best young talent in British boxing including: Kevin Mitchell, Olympic Gold Medallist James DeGale MBE, 2007 World Amateur Champion Frankie Gavin and GB Olympic Representative Billy Joe Saunders.

Current Running Order:

Fight 1 - 17.45 hrs

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest

RONNIE HEFFRON V TBA

Fight 2 - 18.00 hrs

8 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest

ALEX ARTHUR V NIGEL WRIGHT

Fight 3 - 18.35 hrs

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS V LEE NOBLE

Fight 4 - 19.00 hrs

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest

FRANKIE GAVIN V SAMIR TERGAOUI

Fight 5 - 19.25 hrs

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest

JAMES DeGALE V NATHAN KING

Fight 6 - Floater

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest

STEPHEN SMITH V IAN BAILEY

Fight 7 - 20.10 hrs

THE COMMONWEALTH FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 126 lbs

JOHN SIMPSON V STEPHEN BELL

Fight 8 - 21.15 hrs

THE VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND AN ELIMINATOR FOR THE WBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 135 lbs

KEVIN MITCHELL V BREDIS PRESCOTT

Fight 9 - 22.20 hrs

THE WBA LIGHT-WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD

12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 140 lbs

AMIR KHAN V DIMITRY SALITA

Fight 10- Swing Bout # 1

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Heavyweight Contest

TONY BELLEW V MARTIAL BELLA OLEME

Fight 11 - Swing Bout # 1

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Cruiserweight Contest

ENZO MACCARINELLI V KRISZTIAN JAKSI

Fight 12- Show Closer

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest

EISA AL DAH V JIMMY BRIGGS

*subject to change.

Booking Hotlines: 0844 493 6666 / 0844 248 5013 (dedicated booking line)