Khan vs. Pacquiao or Mayweather
Khan of course wants Pacquiao or Mayweather to be his next opponent. A bout against ether would give him not only a big payday but a big chance to establish himself, at 28, as more than an up and comer, but as someone who has arrived. Is it then just wishful thinking when he says the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight won’t happen? Or does he make sense?
“Honestly the fight will never happen in my opinion,” he told Boxing Tonight. “I spoke to Manny Pacquiao and, obviously, we speak to Mayweather and his team. I can’t really see that fight happening, there is too much politics with that fight. There are different promotions teams and different management teams.
“I don’t think they will let that fight happen.”
Khan ready if no Superfight
So what are his chances of taking on one of those fighters if they don’t battle one another? Late last month, Pacquiao was in London on a promotional jaunt and at the same time his promoter, Bob Arum, of Top Rank, talked of Khan being the replacement for Mayweather if the superfight didn’t pan out — though he indicated the first choice was still “Money” Mayweather.
“Prince Harry has a group (who are) looking to put on a Manny Pacquiao fight in London,” Arum said. “Khan would certainly make sense, and it’s an interesting fight. But remember: all that is a backup plan. We are still trying to nail down the Mayweather fight. We need Mayweather to say yes.”
As for Khan vs. Mayweather, that’s a potential bout that has been floated before, in fact in 2013 Khan said he’d signed his name on a contract to fight Mayweather in 2014 but Mayweather didn’t sign, deciding to fight Marcos Maidana instead.
But in December, days after Khan beat Devon Alexander, Mayweather did not sound impressed with the idea of fighting the British boxer. At the World Boxing Council gathering in Las Vegas he said that “No one knows who Amir Khan is, except for people who are involved in boxing. My focus is Manny Pacquiao.”
So if Mayweather does not fight Pacquiao, it may be he won’t get into a ring with Amir Khan anyhow. But if Khan is right and the superfight does not go, then look for the British bomber to get a chance to beat the Pac-Man.
