British boxing star Amir Khan has revealed he will know “within a week” whether he will be granted his dream fight with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Khan (28-3-0) was unable to agree a deal to face welterweight rival Devon Alexander earlier this year – initially proposed for Dubai – and has since been keen to secure a lucrative fight with Mayweather.
While both camps have so far insisted no deal is yet in place, Khan is widely considered the frontrunner to be the American’s 46th professional opponent.
Big-hitting Argentine Marcos Maidana, who Khan defeated on points in 2010, is the biggest threat to the Briton’s plans, but Khan believes he makes more sense; from both an entertainment and financial standpoint.
“Look, I want the Mayweather fight,” Khan bluntly told Sport360° during the official opening of the EMD Fitness Boxing Centre in Dubai.
“A lot of people are saying Maidana could be in the frame, but he is a guy I have beaten. He is a guy who hits hard but he is just another Saul Alvarez (who Mayweather outclassed in September).
“Why is Floyd always fighting one style of fighter? People want to see him in an explosive fight; people want to see him come up against someone with speed, movement, and agility.
“I know that I would bring more money to the table than someone like Maidana. I know that if I fight Floyd he will get paid a lot more than if he fought Maidana,” continued Khan.
“I’m just leaving it to (promotional company) Golden Boy and letting them do all the negotiations. In the meantime, I’m just training, working on improving myself as a fighter, and hopefully within a week or so we should know exactly where we are.”
Khan was mobbed on his arrival to the new boxing centre in Sunset Mall, with UAE fighter and friend Eisa Al Dah also in attendance.
If Khan successfully agrees to a showdown with Mayweather, the 27-year-old will be in for the fight of his life against one of boxing’s true greats.
Fourty-six fighters have tried and failed in their quests to topple the mighty Mayweather, but Khan is confident he possesses the weapons to finally end the American's unbeaten record.
“Look, speed kills,” Khan explained. “That is why Manny has been so successful, Tim Bradley has been so successful, and of course Mayweather. All these guys have speed on their side.
“If a fighter with speed fights someone faster, he will have problems. I know I am faster than Floyd. My hand speed and foot speed will give him a lot of problems.”
