Amir Khan has called Floyd Mayweather Jr. "a chicken" who has avoided both him and pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao. Khan is hoping to face 'Money' in the near future, while a megabucks fight between Floyd Jr and Pacquiao has been boxing's holy grail for the last two years.

Khan says Mayweather Jr, who faces Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas on Saturday night, is terrified of losing his perfect unbeaten record, which currently stands at 41-0.

He told The Sun: "In my opinion, Mayweather is a chicken. He is doing everything to avoid me just as he did everything to avoid fighting Manny Pacquiao. I don't want to sound cocky or arrogant but I believe the real reason for Mayweather avoiding me is that he knows I have his number. Mayweather knows if he ever fights me his 0 will go.

"All Floyd does is pick fights that he knows he will win. I thought world championship boxing was about proving who is the best but if he keeps turning his back on me how can he still say he is the best?"

Khan has a potential mandatory world title defence against Lamont Peterson coming up, and says that could be his last fight at light-welterweight before moving up to welter and the likes of Mayweather and Pacquaio.

Amir claims that Floyd Jr isn't the only fighter currently trying to avoid him.

"I will fight anyone put in front of me but there seems to be a lot of boxers who talk a good fight but when push comes to shove they won't get in the ring with me," he added.

"Tim Bradley was offered fortunes to fight me for his IBF title but it never happened and now he has been stripped of his belt.

"Erik Morales was offered a fight against me but he is now saying he won't be ready for me until next year.

"I must admit it is all very frustrating as I try to unify the world titles. All I can do is fight whoever is put in front of me but there is an increasing small number willing to do just that."