Amir Khan Expressed Desire to Fight Mayweather and Pacquiao

British Boxer is worried about losing the opportunity to fight either champion.

Amir Khan is a British boxer and a former two-time world champion. Well known in UK gambling news, Khan won WBA Super Welterweight, WBA and IBF Light Welterweight titles. The Silver medalist at the 2002 Athens Olympics also is the youngest WBA Light Welterweight champion. Khan’s career is respectable in its own right, yet Khan wants more.

• Amir Khan is a British boxer who was a former two-time world champion
• Khan’s last four tune-ups were against boxers who were soft
• Khan predicted Manny Pacquiao will be defeated by Mayweather

Khan is a worried about the window of opportunity closing on his opportunity to fight Floyed Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Khan, well known among boxing enthusiasts lacks the “household name” that Mayweather and Pacquiao possess. He knows that in order to reach higher purses for his fights, Khan must fight at least one of these high profile fighters.

Khan feels bumps in the road on his way to a Mayweather or Pacquiao bout.

Many critics have doubt that a Mayweather fight could occur. Part of the reason may lie in Mayweather’s continued lack of interest in fighting. Although he has claimed he will fight one more bout after May 2nd, Mayweather might make sure he fights someone who can bring a big purse. Neither Mayweather nor Pacquiao may accept an offer to fight for a low pay cut that Khan would bring.

Khan may have waited too long after he loses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia to fight contenders. Khan fought many “tune-up” fights instead of quickly facing more major contender or having rematches. Tune-ups are meant to prepare boxers physically and mentally for more challenging opponents. Khan is scheduled to have a fifth tune-up match on May 29th in which the odds favor him according to UK gambling laws.

Since these last four tune-ups featured boxers not known for their punching prowess, Khan has given critics and fans the proper ammunition to determine his unpreparedness to fight contenders. If Khan were to take on more respectable fighters such as Kell Brook, Marcos Maidana or Keith Thurman, Khan could present a more positive case for fighting Mayweather or Pacquiao as well as more purse money.

Looking at Khan’s record of fights, it may seem that he’s only looking for a payday himself. The continued act of fighting softer fighters doesn’t make Khan’s situation look positive. Mayweather and Pacquiao chose their opponents and never simply agreed to fight someone to give them their chance. There’s little Khan can give these guys. Were his record a bit sturdier, he could actually sell himself more as a challenge.

Khan has seen more hope in fighting Manny Pacquiao

Since Khan has become frustrated in dealing with the Mayweather camp, he hopes to fight Pacquiao in Abu Dhabi later this year. “I want this fight. I would love to box Manny. We’ve looking at an event in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is a only a short drive away. It’s dream of mine to fight in that part of the world.” With his roots in Pakistan, many Muslims would come to see this bout as well as the many Philippinos who live in U.A.E.

There have been speed bumps preventing a Khan Mayweather showdown such as a possible rematch that in the contract for the Mayweather Pacquiao “fight of the century.” Also Mayweather has until September before his six-fight deal with Showtime Sports expires which may not give Khan enough time to negotiate a bout. Since Khan is Muslim, he would rather have a bout scheduled after Ramadan in September.

Khan definitely claimed to predict a Mayweather victory of Pacquiao. “I actually think that once Mayweather gets through Manny’s assault in the first few rounds it will become an easy win for him. Manny has speed and power, but Floyd has the defensive skill to avoid. The longer it goes the harder it will get for Manny.” These opinions are shared by many using online sportsbooks in the US as well.

Khan believes if Pacquiao lost to Mayweather on May 2nd, then his bout with Pac-Man is more possible. Although he claimed his desire to be the man who defeats Mayweather, a Pacquiao defeat may not “seal the deal” for Khan because the any defeat by either fighter needs to be large enough as to rid all doubt of a possible upset in a rematch. If Mayweather or Pacquiao clearly win and Khan clearly wins his tune-up bout, then the green light may very well be on for Khan’s desired bout.