Amir Khan soundly defeated Devon Alexander on Saturday in his second fight as a welterweight, but despite a fourth straight victory he seems no closer to his dream fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Following Khan's win on Saturday Mayweather was asked about potentially taking him on in his next fight. Mayweather's response will surely displease Khan. "The other night I think he did 4,000 (attendance), so, Amir Khan, his name holds no weight," Mayweather said.
"No one knows who Amir Khan is, except for people who are involved in boxing. My focus is Manny Pacquiao, let's make it happen."
The boxing world is buzzing with renewed vigor about the potential for a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao super fight finally happening, even if it is several years late.
Khan hasn't let himself be thrust out of the picture so far though, claiming he has a better shot to hand Mayweather his first loss than Pacquiao does.
"The Mayweather fight, I think, definitely should happen. I have proven myself not once, but twice," Khan said this week. Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya agrees that Khan deserves to be in a major fight, and said he would push Khan as an opponent for Mayweather or Pacquiao ahead of the Khan-Alexander matchup.
"I'm pushing for a Pacquiao fight. And I'm also pushing for a Mayweather fight," De La Hoya said. "He is a devastating puncher, has tremendous speed and he knows how to use it. He pleases the fans. He's exciting. People want to watch him fight."
Mayweather appears set on fighting May 2, though, which is also when Canelo Alvarez plans on facing Miguel Cotto. Alvarez is a superstar in his own right, and if he is taking on Cotto, Mayweather would need a big-time opponent to push him off the date. While Khan has a large British and Middle Eastern fan base, Pacquiao may be the only opponent capable of helping Mayweather bump Alvarez.
Even De La Hoya, who has said he wants to help Alvarez reclaim Cinco De Mayo weekend for Mexican boxing, seems open to convincing his star to back off that weekend for Mayweather-Pacquiao.
Unfortunately for Khan, it seems his dream fight is going to have to wait.
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