By Edward Chaykovsky
Veteran trainer Joe Gallagher says Amir Khan (29-3, 19KOs) is a taking a very big risk by accepting a fight with fellow former champion Devon Alexander on December 13th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The winner will become a frontrunner candidate to face WBC/WBA welterweight king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May of 2015.
Khan made his welterweight debut in May of this year, dropping former champion Luis Collazo three times to win a twelve round unanimous decision. The fight took place on the undercard of Mayweather's first bout with Marcos Maidana.
"Alexander will bring the best out of Amir Khan - and that’s exactly what the Brit will need to produce if he is to move a step closer to the Floyd Mayweather fight he craves. Khan is at his best when the pressure is on. When his back is against the wall. When he’s taking risks. And taking on former two-weight world champion Alexander is undoubtedly a risk with the Mayweather fight so close he can almost taste it," Gallagher stated in the Manchester Evening News.
"Victory over him can only strengthen Khan’s claim that he deserves to be Mayweather’s next opponent in May 2015. That will undoubtedly have been on his mind when choosing who to fight in December. He needs to tread carefully. He needs marquee names to keep raising his profile in the States - but also knows that one defeat will push the Mayweather fight further out of his reach. Perhaps take it off the table for good."
