By Phil D. Jay
Former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has reacted to internet claims that he is ready to step in and fight Floyd Mayweather for the WBC welterweight title on May 5th in Las Vegas.
The 25 year-old, who is still hoping for a return with Lamont Peterson in the spring, was touted as a replacement for his Wildcard gym-mate Manny Pacquaio with a fight against Mayweather looking increasingly unlikely to happen on the date.
Khan believes a fight with the five-weight world title holder would be more realistic to happen towards the end of 2012 as he looks to regain the 140lb belts he lost in contentious fashion in Washington.
“I think it’s a bit early for Floyd Mayweather and I think he’s got someone else lined up at the moment,” Khan told the BBC.
“Maybe Floyd could be at the end of the year, but at the moment we are looking at Lamont Peterson and if not Peterson then we are just going to go back to the drawing board and maybe look at a few opponents at 147lbs and start negotiating with them.”
Mayweather, 34, has so far ruled out Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez as an opponent for May 5th and with Pacquiao possibly fighting in June, Khan’s admission will keep the media guessing as to who may step in.
Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net
