By Edward Chaykovsky

IBF/WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KOs) is pushing for a shot at WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KOs), and believes that he'll be ready to go in 2012. Khan faces mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson on December 10th, and plans to move up to the welterweight division in early 2012. Khan wants to make a "feeling out" fight at 147 in March. He hopes to land Mayweather in the fall.

"Floyd Mayweather, the guy is a legend. I think he will be more appreciated when he retires, love him or hate him we all still watch him. He's kept boxing alive. I look up to him and met him a few times and he's a great guy, but to be the best you have to beat the best. And I want to be the first to beat him. In 2012 I will be ready and no I am not looking past Peterson.

"Floyd bashed me for having 2000 unsold tickets for the [Zab] Judah fight in Vegas, but his fight vs. [Victor] Ortiz - there was 1200 tickets given away and 3000 tickets unsold and thats in his hometown. Oh well, sh*t happens. I'm sure he's done well on pay-per-view and with the gate. I'm working towards the Mayweather fight and in a couple of fights time I will be ready. Theres only one way of beating him, and his last few [fights, his] opponents all picked the same gameplan which was wrong.... love me or hate me I'm gonna get to the top and do whatever I have to do to get there."