Amir Khan in for Manny Pacquiao as Floyd Mayweather opponent
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the super-fight the ghost of Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao returns with vengeance, this time though the spectre of boxing bullion seeks the soul of Amir Khan.
The long protracted fight between the two best fighters of their generation fell apart catastrophically, after a mere 18-months of negotiations, earlier this summer. With the world waiting to see if boxing will have its first internationally acclaimed fight since the 1990s the whole thing collapsed under the pressure of its own greatness.
There was the blood-testing debacle, Mayweather disappeared, money, contracts and a bucket load of bickering took centre stage before they decided just to go their separate ways. Shame.
Instead Pacquiao is now due to fight a disgraced Antonio Margarito in November in a fight that no-one really cares about, while Mayweather has gone to walk the earth, build an orphanage, count his cash, stare in the mirror or whatever he does when he “retires”.
There have always been hopes of a bout resurrection next year. However fight fans may not have to sit through the calamity of an anti-climax again, because this time they have a plan B.
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, said that they are looking at rekindling the flame, but if that fails then WBA light-welterweight champion Khan is being groomed as Pacman’s replacement. Schaefer said: “If we can’t make Mayweather-Pacquiao in the spring, it may be too late. So this will give us time to build Amir into a pay-per-view superstar in the US.”
Khan has a tough fixture in December against Marcos Maidana, one of the big four in the light-welterweight division - the other two being Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley Junior - with Khan making up the destructive quartet.
The Bolton native is seen as Pacman’s natural successor with his fast hands, Freddy Roach-training and genuinely exciting quality. He hasn’t fought at Mayweather or Pacquiao’s level yet but if he can come through Maidana and maybe one of the other two then he will be ready for big time boxing.
The only worry would be stepping up the half a stone weight class to welter, something that always seems easier in theory then in practise. With 2011 seen as the prospective year for the fight it gives him little time to adjust to a new level.
There is still hope for the original fight but action needs to be taken quickly because there is a time frame for these things. Money May is now 33 Pacquiao is 31 and people only want to see these two while they are in there prime, it’s no good coming 10 years later à la Roy Jones Jr v Bernard Hopkins II.
Khan would present a different option to Pacquiao, like a diet Coke when they have run out of full fat. Yet on a hot summer’s day you would take that over a glass of freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice mixed down with a tea spoon of vinegar every time.
Don’t hold your breath for any announcement soon though. You Khan bet the last of your “Money May” that this one will run and run.
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