• Boxing

Khan will get Mayweather or Pacquiao says De La Hoya

ESPN staff
November 5, 2014
Amir Khan takes on Devon Alexander next month in Las Vegas © Getty Images
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Amir Khan will secure a dream fight with either Floyd Meayweather or Manny Pacquiao next year if he beats Devon Alexander, says his promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

Khan takes on Alexander in Las Vegas on Decmber 13, though he has long sought a fight with Mayweather, who overlooked him earlier this year in favour of facing Marcos Maidana.

"I expect him to get the Mayweather fight," said Golden Boy Promotions president De La Hoya, a former six-weight world champion. "He has been wanting the major names in boxing for quite a while. He deserves it.

"This is a tough fight that neither can look past but obviously the big prize is the Pacquiaos of this world and the Mayweathers of this world. There is a lot on the line, this is high stakes."

Khan pulled out of talks to face then-IBF welterweight champion Alexander a year ago, having been advised he would be picked as undefeated Mayweather's next opponent, although he was ultimately snubbed.

Pacquiao has also been linked with facing Khan before, with the pair regularly sparring when they were both trained by Freddie Roach, but Khan is keeping his attention on Alexander.

"I'm not focusing on anything other than Alexander," he said. "I've made the mistake of looking too far ahead before. If I beat Devon, I know the next fight will big, even bigger and better, but I have to win first. There is a lot to gain for both of us: we can both get a superfight.

"This would have been an amazing fight for me 12 months ago when he had a world title but it is still a big fight for me. Devon is one of the A-class fighters in the welterweight division.

"I don't like to look backwards because [not taking the fight meant] I had 12 months out of the ring, which was tough for me.

"But I had a good break and gave me a chance to work on things and build up my strength when I moved up to the welterweight division, so I am strong at the weight rather than just rushing up. I will be much better at the weight against Devon than I would have been 12 months ago."

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