By Rick Reeno
For the last few days, former champion Amir Khan (28-3, 19KOs) and Adrien Broner (27-1, 22KOs) have been trading words on the social networks. The tension first began when Floyd Mayweather Jr. promised Amir a future fight, but only if Khan was able to defeat Broner.
While Mayweather would like to see Khan and Broner trade leather on his May 3rd undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Schaefer indicates the fight won't happen in the immediate future.
The biggest reason for delay, says Schaefer, is both fighters are going in totally different directions in terms of their planed career moves.
Broner, following last December's decision loss to Marcos Maidana, told Golden Boy that he plans drops to down in weight to pursue a title at 140-pounds. Last June, Broner jumped from 135 to 147 to capture the WBA welterweight title from Paulie Malignaggi.
Khan, inactive since last April's win over Julio Diaz, advised Golden Boy that he plans to campaign as a full-fledged welterweight and wants a significant fight or two in order to land a Mayweather shot (should Mayweather beat Maidana on May 3).
"I think it's a great fight. And you know that I am not a marinater, but I can only make fights when they can be made. Having said that, Adrien is thinking about moving down in weight to 140, which is something that I certainly support and endorse. I think there are certainly some big fights for him at 140. He sort of rushed through these divisions and in the process left out the 140-pound weight class," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
"I think sometimes you need time to grow into these divisions and grow into these fights. He could go to 140, have a couple of fights and then move back to 147. That's a blueprint and a career path that I would endorse."
"Obviously we know that Amir wants a Mayweather fight. For Amir, to move up to 147 is the right path for him. I think hanging around the 140-pound weight class doesn't make any sense for Amir and he's been fighting at 140 for a long time. I know that as he gained muscle mass and moved up in weight, he feels better than he ever has. Virgil [Hunter] has been telling me that as well. He feels strong, he feels good. For him to go back down to 140 right now, it would make no sense."
"It is one of those situations where we are going to eventually see that fight [between Broner and Khan]. You know Rick, and the fans know, that I am not a marinater. I get the fights done and I think I have a track record to prove that. In this particular case, I see Adrien doing a couple of fights at 140, and then Amir doing a couple of fights at 147 and then possibly facing Mayweather - depending on the outcome of the fight with Maidana. I see that scenario as being more likely than Amir and Adrien happening right now."