Khan in line for Mayweather bout

WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan could be in line to fight Floyd Mayweather next year, according to reports.

Khan survived a bruising encounter with Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night to hang on to his WBA light-welterweight title and it has been suggested that he could go toe to toe with Mayweather in Las Vegas next July, the second slot reserved for the Bolton fighter next year by his American agents, Golden Boy Promotions.

Khan’s next fight is due to take place in London on 16 April, possibly as a curtain raiser for David Haye against Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight title unification fight in Las Vegas later that evening, and Khan’s trainer, the highly respected Freddie Roach, says that Khan wants to fight Mayweather following that fight.

Mayweather has not fought since defeating Shane Mosley in defence of his Super World Welterweight title in May of this year and is due in court next month to answer domestic violence charges.

The 33-year old is a five-division world champion and is undefeated as a professional boxer with 41 wins, including 25 knockouts. His reputation has been tarnished somewhat, however, by his apparent reluctance to fight Manny Pacquiao, regarded as the best pound for pound boxer in the world.