Amir Khan claims he is ready to fight Floyd Mayweather but does not believe the legendary American would relish facing him.
Bolton fighter Khan, the WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion, is planning only one more fight in his current division before stepping up to join the superstar likes of Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at welterweight.
The prospect of a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout has long excited the boxing world but with doubt over whether that "super fight" will happen, Khan is eager to muscle in.
Khan, 24, said: "Maybe next summer the fight against Floyd Mayweather could happen.
"It is about experience and timing and I think it is my time now.
"We want to jump there because we have cleaned up the 140lb division.
"We want to jump in there with the best and beat the best.
"Every young fighter has ambitions and I am really confident I have the style, speed and power to beat him. I also have the best team around me.
"If the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight doesn't happen I am happy to step in there - but that is if Floyd will take the fight.
"At the moment he is saying he doesn't want to fight me.
"It is because of all the hard work you put into boxing. If you put a lot of hard work into it people see that hard work, your performances and see you doing really well and they tend to back off.
"Maybe Floyd doesn't want to get beaten."
Mayweather, 34, a five-weight world champion unbeaten in 41 fights, will step into the ring for the first time in 16 months when he faces Victor Ortiz in a fortnight.
Khan, after beating Zab Judah in a unification bout in July, is still waiting to learn his opponent for what would be his final light-welterweight title defence in December.
Khan believes opponents are trying to avoid him before he vacates the division.
Khan said: "December 10 will be my next fight but we don't know who it will be against yet.
"We are looking at a few opponents but everyone we try to fight is pulling out.
"Timothy Bradley had the chance to fight me in an undisputed unification fight and he turned it down because he knew he was going to get beaten.
"Erik Morales told us on Friday that he doesn't want to fight me.
"Maybe they are all afraid.
"There are only a few people we can pick now because I am the number one in this division."
Khan says other options include Lucas Matthysse, who fights Morales later this month, and Lamont Peterson, who has been considered previously.
Khan added: "I am getting better and better - there is always room for improvement.
"I am only young and have always said 25, 26 is when I'll be at my peak, when I'll be beating all the best.
"I think with the team I have around me, there is no one touching me. I just have to keep on training and keep on performing.
"I am willing to fight anyone, whoever is put in front of me I will fight."