• Welterweight

Roach hints Khan will take Floyd's May 5 date

Floyd Mayweather Jnr wants to fight on May 5 next year © PA Photos

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Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach has suggested the Brit has leapfrogged Manny Pacquiao in the queue to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

Mayweather's camp confirmed earlier this month that he wants to return to action on May 5, and it was expected he would fight Pacquiao. However, after Pacquiao claimed a controversial points decision against Juan Manuel Marquez at the weekend, it now appears those two will meet for a fourth time.

Mayweather is known to be keen to fight more regularly than usual over the next couple of years, so he is unlikely to pass up the May 5 date. And with a Pacquiao showdown looking unlikely, Roach has raised the prospect of Khan making his welterweight debut against Mayweather.

"It'll be a great fight for us I think," Roach, who also trains Pacquiao, told Sky Sports. "And I would love that fight next at 147 [lbs, the welterweight limit]. At 147 Amir would be bigger, stronger and more resilient than ever."

Meanwhile, Khan suggests the earliest the fight could happen is in nine months' time - but he is extremely keen to face Mayweather, and so is likely to be flexible over dates.

"That fight can happen within the next nine to 12 months," Khan said. "It's a fight that I want, the fans would love to see that fight. Against me Mayweather would have problems and it would be a tough fight for him. By the time that fight comes I'll be 25 - I'll be stronger, more experienced, and it'll come at a great time for me."

One factor in Khan's favour is that both he and Mayweather are looked after by Golden Boy Promotions, which is run by Oscar de la Hoya. Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is no fan of Mayweather and notoriously reluctant to negotiate with Golden Boy.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.