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Khan keen to beat Bradley before facing Floyd

Amir Khan wants to become an even bigger name before he faces Floyd Mayweather Jnr © Getty Images

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Amir Khan still hopes to lure Timothy Bradley into a light-welterweight unification fight - before he looks to move up a weight class to take on Floyd Mayweather Jnr 'on the same level as him'.

An intriguing contest against Mayweather looks increasingly likely during the next 18 months, especially after Khan needed just five rounds to knock out Zab Judah in Las Vegas at the weekend.

While the Bolton-born fighter admits he could step up to fight the American in his next bout, he would prefer to enhance his reputation further against other opponents first so when he does eventually take on Mayweather, he is considered more his equal.

"We don't want to rush into big fights. I'd fight anyone, I'd even fight Mayweather next," Khan said. "But when I fight him I want to be a big name. I don't just want to fight him as another opponent, I want to be on the same level as him.

"So when I do fight him it will be like when Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather fight - both of them as champions, not opponents.

"That's the league I want to be in against Mayweather, but I need a couple more fights to get there."

Whoever Khan faces next, he is keen to continue fighting in the United States - despite recent comments from Mayweather that he would be prepared to fight in London.

"My name is getting is bigger. Whether it's for a belt or not, people in America want to watch me box because they know I have an exciting style," he said. "I have loyal fans in the UK who support me and also love my style, but we need to build the brand more in America."

Defeating Judah was a solid step for Khan on the path to becoming a 'big name', but a victory over Bradley - still considered the top light-welterweight around - to unify the division's belts would be even more impressive.

Bradley previously reneged on a verbal agreement to fight Khan that ultimately saw Judah step in, but the Englishman doesn't believe Bradley has too many other options available to him at the moment.

"Bradley is a possibility because he's got no opponent," said Khan. "Now Manny's fighting Juan Manuel Marquez and Mayweather's fighting Victor Ortiz, who is left for him? No one.

"If he doesn't take this fight against me, he'll probably have been out of the fight game for over a year. He's in his prime now and needs to stay busy and active.

"He has two titles and the WBC and WBO might strip him because he's not doing anything. It's the only fight that's left for me in this division. I should be moved to the top of the light-welterweight rankings. I'm surprised I'm not above Bradley already.

"I'll fight anyone and tried to make this fight against Bradley, but he just didn't want it. He won't sign on the dotted line."

Khan believes he will have scared Bradley with the quality of his demolition of Judah, although he believes he could have been even sharper during the one-sided contest at Mandalay Bay.

"Maybe once or twice I tried too hard to get him out of there. He was very awkward," said Khan. "He was looking to finish me with one big shot but when he saw that I took one or two, it took his confidence away.

"I could see in the fourth round that he didn't want anything, he'd kind of given up. He was frustrated, his heart went and he wanted out."

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