• Welterweight

I want Money, not Manny - Khan

ESPN staff
November 10, 2011
Amir Khan knows which welterweight he fights to fight for the title © PA Photos
Enlarge

Amir Khan has acknowledged that Manny Pacquiao isn't a realistic opponent for him in the future - but that's fine because Floyd Mayweather Jnr is the welterweight he wants anyway.

WBA and IBF champion Khan is currently preparing for a light-welterweight title defence against Lamont Peterson on December 10, after which he plans to move up a weight class. Speculation has linked him with a fight against Pacquiao - who is also coached by trainer Freddie Roach - but the 24-year-old insists such a showdown is unlikely because of their shared interest.

As a result, he is targeting a blockbuster contest with the American welterweight.

"There'll be more challenges there and bigger fights," Khan told Sky Sports News, of his intention to move up a weight class. "I'm 24 now, it'd be a great time for me to fight him [Mayweather]. I'm getting better and better and training is going really well.

"There's been a lot of talk about me fighting Manny Pacquiao, but we're from the same gym and it wouldn't feel right and I don't think that will happen.

"But Mayweather is the other big name out there at 147lb and it would make more sense - it's my ambition to fight the best pound-for-pound in the world and beat him and take that belt."

Kell Brook has been mentioned as a potential first opponent for Khan when he moves up to welterweight, although the Bolton fighter acknowledged that he would delay the switch if the remaining belt-holder at light-welterweight, Timothy Bradley, finally agrees to a contest.

"If he does take on the fight then I will stay down and fight him," Khan noted.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices