• Light-middleweight

Arum brands Mayweather a 'disgrace' over Khan treatment

ESPN staff
February 19, 2014
Bob Arum believes Floyd Mayweather Jr has been allowed to get away with turning Amir Khan into a laughing stock © AP
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Bob Arum has branded Floyd Mayweather Jr a "disgrace" for the way the undefeated light-middleweight champion has treated Amir Khan, indicating he has turned the Brit into a "laughing stock."

Speaking to Telegraph Sport, Arum - who promotes Mayweather's long-time rival Manny Pacquiao - launched a scathing attack on Mayweather's actions and stated the American "should be ashamed of himself."

Speculation has been rife as to who Mayweather's next opponent will be, with Khan recently topping a Twitter poll set up by 'Money' himself. Khan won 60% of the 35,000 votes made by fans, seeing off the challenge of former opponent Marcos Maidana.

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However, for the first time since rumours began to circulate, Khan has expressed doubt over whether a fight with Mayweather will materialise and even admitted he was considering a Plan B opponent should it not come to fruition.

Arum stated Mayweather's conduct had left Khan subject to humiliation, and instructed the 27-year-old to find another opponent instead.

"What he has done to Amir Khan is absolutely disgraceful, whether he ends up fighting him, or he doesn't," Arum told Telegraph Sport.

"My feeling is he is not going to fight him, but it's disgraceful to do that to another human being because you are in a position to do that. Just because he has the power where you can do something like that.

"Amir Khan has put himself in a position where he can be humiliated. He's like a laughing stock. Terrible. Absolutely terrible. He's not fighting back and telling these guys to get lost. Get another promoter, maybe go back to Frank Warren, get another opponent and tell them to p*** off.

"If a promoter did it, if a Bob Arum or a Frank Warren did it the press would be all over them. They have allowed Mayweather to get away with this s***. It's terrible.

"They have twisted the kid in the wind. Mayweather should be ashamed of himself. He's not going to sign the contract, I think he will fight Maidana."

Arum is in Macau promoting Zou Shiming, who fights on Saturday in what will be his fourth contest as a professional.

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