By Ernest Gabion

Sources close to the situation have advised BoxingScene.com that Josesito Lopez (30-5, 18KOs) has emerged as the early frontrunner to face former champion Amir Khan in April.

After suffering back to back defeats, Khan (27-3, 19KOs) returned on Saturday night and dominated Carlos Molina for a TKO in ten. Lopez had a year filled with ups and downs. He moved up to the welterweight division and scored one of the year's biggest upsets with a ninth round stoppage of Victor Ortiz. He then moved up again, to junior middleweight, but bit off more than he could chew when WBC champion Saul Alvarez dropped him three times for a fifth round TKO.