Sport

Mayweather v Khan? American boxing king lets fans decide on whether Bolton boy bags lucrative Las Vegas bout

By Arandeep Singh Dhillon

Amir Khan’s hopes of a super-fight with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr have been put in the hands of the fans of the American fighter.

The Bolton-born boxer is still waiting to find out if he will face the unbeaten world light-middleweight champion despite signing a contract in December to put him in line for a possible fight.

Mayweather – unbeaten in 45 professional fights – has asked for fans to decide who he faces next, by writing on his Twitter account: “I’m going to let the fans vote. Tell me who I should fight next. Khan or Maidana?”

The 2004 Olympic silver medallist, who boasts a 28-3 fight record, is hopeful of a lucrative Las Vegas showdown on May 3 and trainer Freddie Roach believes his charge Khan could cause an upset.

Roach told the Ringside Toe 2 Toe Podcast: “That’s not an easy fight. I’ve always said Amir has the right style to beat Floyd if he fights correctly and doesn’t stay in the pocket too long.

“I always thought he could beat him with his speed. I think he’s faster than Mayweather and that’s what it takes to beat him.

“Floyd might have his hands full on the night.”

The latest stunt from the pound-for-pound king may be a ploy to unsettle his future opponent – a common trait of the champion who knocked out Ricky Hatton in 2007 to instil ‘The Hitman’s’ first career defeat.

Mayweather’s other potential opponent – 30-year-old Maidana – was defeated by Khan in 2011 but carried out a superb destruction of showman Adrien Broner in December to launch him back into the spotlight.

Image courtesy of Sky Sports via YouTube, with thanks.

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