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I want Mayweather or Pacquiao before Brook, says Khan

Amir Khan fights Devon Alexander in Las Vegas © Getty Images

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Amir Khan is prepared to wait for a fight against either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao before a clash with British rival Kell Brook.

Khan boxes American Devon Alexander as top of the bill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday in what he sees as an audition for a fight next year against either of the world's top two boxers: Mayweather Jr or Pacquiao.

The Bolton boxer's American promoter Oscar De La Hoya is pushing for a fight against pound-for-pound No.1 Mayweather or Pacquiao, with IBF champion Kell Brook as a possible Plan B.

Khan, 28, aims to at least put himself at the head of the queue to face either Mayweather or Pacquiao in 2015 with a good win over Alexander and says Sheffield's IBF welterweight champion Brook will have to wait.

"There's talk about a fight with me and Kell Brook, but we are still young," Khan told ESPN. "Kell Brook is still learning and I'm in a position where I want to the big fights against Mayweather or Pacquiao to happen next year.

"They are only one or two fights away from retiring so I want my chance to fight them before they leave boxing. But Kell Brook is always going to be there and if we do fight, it has to be on my terms and what I want.

"A fight with Kell Brook is a fight I would give them but only when it's right for me and right now I have got the Alexander fight next and maybe then a big fight. I'll see if a fight with Mayweather or Pacquiao can happen. Maybe after that it can happen. I will be back in the UK very soon, after my next two fights, maybe against Brook."

Khan considers Alexander - a former IBF-WBC world light-welterweight and IBF welterweight champion - better than Brook but not the best he has faced so far.

"Devon Alexander is one of the toughest opponents I've faced, but I would not say the toughest," Khan said. "I could have taken an easier route than fighting Alexander next but we want to give the fans good fights and not many fighters would do that if they have got a super fight very close like I have.

"Styles make fights and the styles we have mean it's going to be tough at times. I will have to dig in but I'm not too nervous about it and I really think I have his number.

"Alexander is still dangerous - but I don't think he's what he used to be a couple of years or so ago. People know what his style is like now. I've seen a few things that I can capitalise on when we fight, that's why it has become easier to fight him."

Khan, who has boxed just once in Britain in three and a half years, hopes UK fans will get behind him in pursuit of the big fights next year.

"I want to give the fans what they want," Khan said. "I have never backed away from any opponent, I've always wanted to fight the best, and I want the biggest opponent.

"Now is time for UK fans to get behind me. This fight will get them what they want - it's time they get behind me. There are always steps and routes you have to take in boxing to get the big fights, but no way does that mean I am looking past Devon Alexander."

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