For months Amir Khan was the frontrunner to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May, until Marcos "El Chino" Maidana's name got thrown into the hat after knocking off Mayweather's protégé Adrien "The Problem" Broner. While Maidana's name is certainly hotter than Khan's at the moment, it appears the British fighter with the big fan base might get the chance at "Money" by default.
According to reports, Broner has exercised a rematch clause in his contract and will take on Maidana again this spring. "My mind is set on war," Broner told ESPN.com. "I had a bad night. He was the better man that night, but he didn't beat me. He outhustled me. I respect everything. I respect him. But I'm ready to go back to war and get my belt back.
"I'm taking boxing back to what it used to be. They created a monster. (The loss) woke up a monster."
Broner's loss was especially ignominious, as the "Problem" had been billed as an undefeated conqueror of the sport and talked heaps of trash prior to stepping in the ring. Viral videos have made the rounds of Broner dancing as he arrived at the fight site, and drinks and trash were thrown on him by fans upon leaving the ring following the loss.
Broner's been more gracious of late, giving credit to Maidana for beating him. He seems very confident in a different result when the rematch happens, though. "I wanted to go right back to camp after the fight, but I knew my body wasn't able to go to camp physically," Broner said.
"But mentally I wanted to box. I know what I gotta do in the rematch and I will do it. It will be a different outcome. I am starting to get myself ready. It'll be another good fight. I gotta go get mine back."
This rematch has implications for Floyd, the pound-for-pound king. Maidana being tied up in a second Broner fight leaves no clear option aside from Khan, as he's made clear Manny Pacquiao isn't a candidate at this time.
Khan said he's already done his part to make the fight happen. "I am the one who signed the contract, I've signed my part of the contract, they've not signed theirs. If he wants to fight Amir Khan then he should sign it."
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