Schaefer: Fighting chance Khan could still meet Mayweather

Sport360 staff 14:05 26/02/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer has declared that Amir Khan still has a chance of fighting Floyd Mayweather despite the British boxer losing out to Marcos Maidana for the right to fight the undefeated American.

    Schaefer's comments come after the Argentine was finally officially confirmed as Mayweather's 46th professional opponent when the two meet on May 3. 

    In a statement, Schaefer explained: "[It] doesn't mean that a fight between Amir Khan and Mayweather is never going to happen. I believed it then and I believe it now that Amir Khan has the skills and that one weapon – which I think is going to give Floyd Mayweather a lot of problems – and that is his handspeed.

    "Amir's the fastest fighter in the world. He can clearly give trouble to Mayweather, so I believe that fight is going to happen. It's just not now." 

    "I saw Floyd on Monday night at the Los Angeles Lakers basketball game and he was telling me, 'tell Amir that it's not going to happen now, but it will happen'," said Schaefer, whose Golden Boy Promotions represent both Maidana and Khan. "So he's definitely open to eventually fighting Amir." 

    Khan has been clearly disappointed with Mayweather's choice of opponent having turned down the opportunity of a world title fight with Devon Alexander at the end of last year.

    "Despite having signed my part of the agreement to fight Floyd in early December, I've been preparing myself for some time that the match up with him wasn't going to happen, as I announced on Twitter a few days ago. Therefore, this announcement did not come as a surprise," said Khan in a statement.

    "I am, however, very disappointed with Floyd and his team for not providing any explanation as to why he delayed the announcement for so long and ultimately avoided the fight with me. 

    "Clarification, if he was not fighting me, would have allowed me to look over my options and pursue another path, rather than the ultimate delay to my career this has caused. 

    "It has been a very frustrating period as I'd been due to fight in December against Devon Alexander, however, I was strongly advised to not take this fight as I would be facing Floyd this May – and therefore signed my side of the contract on this belief. 

    Not only did Alexander go on to lose his IBF Welterweight title against Shawn Porter in December but Khan was also encouraged by Mayweather's decision to give fight fans the opportunity to decide who he fought next.

    Social media users voted in favour of Khan over Maidana but Mayweather and his team were swayed by Maidana's superb display against Adrien Broner which saw Maidana win the WBA Welterweight title which will be unified with Mayweather's WBC equivalent when the two clash.

    "What Maidana did to Broner really changed the dynamics. Mayweather and the fight fans in the US, and the US media felt that Maidana was the bigger fight, more dangerous fight at this particular point for Floyd," added Schaefer.

    Despite the disappointment Khan wished the pair well for their encounter and announced that he will be soon be releasing news of his next opposition in the coming days.

    "I genuinely wish Marcos and Floyd all the best for their fight – two great fighters," said Khan. "As a team we have now moved on and are looking at different options.

    "I've been training very hard since my last fight. I'm a fighter who wants to face the very best out there and have never ducked any opponent.

    "I'm focused and ready for my next outing – we currently have a few options on the table at the moment and my team are working alongside Golden Boy Promotions to announce my next fight within the next 10 days."

    Recommended