• Welterweight

Khan and Mayweather on course for 2013 showdown

ESPN staff
March 29, 2012
Amir Khan will attempt to regain his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles from Lamont Peterson in May © Getty Images
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Amir Khan is being lined up for a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jnr next year, his promoters have confirmed.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer revealed that plans are in place for a fight in 2013, providing Khan comes through his next two fights unscathed.

First, Khan will bid to regain his WBA and IBF light-welterweight belts from Lamont Peterson in their May 19 rematch, but Schaefer admits Khan needs to learn to fight smarter if he is to earn a shot at Mayweather.

"I don't know how to say it more elegantly, but sometimes Amir's balls are too big for his own good," Schaefer told the Daily Telegraph. "Look at Mayweather - he's a master tactician who knows how to use defensive and offensive skills and has been knocking people out recently. He knows what it takes to win and fights very smart.

"Amir has the skills, speed and power, but what he needs to work on are the 'ring smarts' and not get carried away. He's still very young and he learnt a lot from the Peterson fight. We'll see if he applies that on May 19."

If Mayweather can see off Miguel Cotto on May 5 and Khan reclaims his titles against Peterson two weeks later, Schaefer believes the pair may step into the ring in early 2013, but not before Khan tests the water at welterweight.

"There's never going to be a boring Amir Khan fight because he is incapable of producing that," Schaefer said. "He's an exciting guy to watch and that's why we all want to see him.

"We would like him to have one fight at welterweight if he beats Peterson, and then there is the match with Mayweather. We have discussed it with the Mayweather camp, and they are interested."

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