Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn't announced an opponent for May 3rd, when he's scheduled to return to the ring, but all signs and rumors point at British fighter Amir Khan.
Khan has been derided in many circles as a lackluster opponent, known as much for a glass chin as his quick hands. Khan has been knocked out by Breidis Prescott and Danny Garcia previously, and went down in his most recent win against journeyman fighter Julio Diaz.
Despite that, respectd trainer Freddie Roach, who is in the corners of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and Ruslan Provodnikov, believes in the narrative Khan has pushed-that his hand speed and skill set are the kryptonite needed to take down boxing's Superman.
"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," Roach said. "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."
Mayweather has impressed as he's aged, regularly taking on larger, more powerful opponents like Canelo Alvarez and Cotto, only to flummox them with his incredible defense and pinpoint counterpunching. Khan would be moving up in weight from 140 lbs., which sounds bad until Khan explains that making that weight is the reason for his chin problems.
"Making 143 was tough. Physically I'm growing. I'm 26, turning 27 [on December 8th], I should have moved up a long time ago," Khan said in December. "Killing yourself makes you a weaker fighter. That's what I was doing my last few fights to try and make weight. I was in the same position when I was at 135. When I moved to 140 I fought Marcos Maidana and Zab Judah, I walked right through them, no problem. I think it will be the same at 147."
Most fight fans wish Mayweather would just take on Pacquiao, another fast-handed star. Roach said Pacquiao is pining for it as well, but Floyd has ignored their efforts. "We all want that fight and Manny especially. Manny's offered a 60-40 split, a blood test, no problems whatever Mayweather wants. We've agreed to anything and he just keeps ignoring us," Roach said.
Pacquiao has agreed to face Timothy Bradley on April 12th.
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