• Amir Khan v Devon Alexander

Khan: I'll send a statement across the world

Amir Khan faces Devon Alexander tonight in Las Vegas © Getty Images

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Amir Khan says he will "send a statement across the world" tonight when he takes on Devon Alexander in Las Vegas, knowing his hopes of securing a potential super-fight against Floyd Mayweather are on the line.

The British welterweight has already been warned by his promoter Oscar de La Hoya and adviser Al Haymon that losing at the MGM Grand is not an option if he wants his dream bout in 2015.

"The loser will not get chance to get big those big superfights against Mayweather or even Manny Pacquiao," said Khan.

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A fight with Mayweather is up for grabs © Getty Images

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"I want to send a statement across the world and beating Alexander in good fashion will definitely do that. I have the style, fitness, movement and skills to do it, and I'll show the improvements I've made with my trainer this year. I'm a better fighter than on my welterweight debut.

"But this is boxing, anything can happen, and one fight changes everything. The one I'm chasing is Floyd and I can't afford to make any mistakes or get beat at the moment."

Khan passed on the chance to fight Alexander a year ago when he was holding out hope of fighting Mayweather, who instead chose to face Marcos Maidana.

It was then on the undercard for Mayweather's rematch against Maidana in May that Khan made his welterweight debut, dropping Luis Collazo three times on his way to victory.

"Alexander has more pressure on him," Khan said. "I've fought in Vegas before, I've topped bills in Vegas before. The nerves I get before the fight will keep me sharp. A lot of people have been talking about me and Mayweather, but I'm not looking past this one. I've made that mistake before. If I'd fought Alexander a year ago and beat him, the Mayweather fight might have been next. I would have had something to bring to the table - a title.

"Alexander is a very dangerous opponent, with lots of tools and lots of skills. He's going to come into the fight desperate to beat me. But I'm the hungrier fighter, and it could come down to that. Speed-wise, he's also quick, but I think I'm quicker. And when it comes to power, I think I'm stronger as well. It's going to be like a game of chess at times and then at other times it's going to be a fight.

"This fight will give people a chance to see what I've learnt under Virgil Hunter [his trainer]. Also, the strength I've gained in the 147lb division. You saw it in the first fight, but I think I'm a better fighter now.

"I see things better, I'm balanced, I'm in good positions when I throw a shot and when I finish throwing a shot. I've still got a lot of room for improvement, but in the last 12 months I've grown up a lot.

"I've got big fights ahead of me and this is where we belong, in the big super-fights. I don't want to leave the sport having never fought the best. I want to share a ring with the best fighter in the world."

Even if he beats Alexander, Khan may have to wait a little bit longer to face Mayweather, with the American calling out Manny Pacquiao to face him on May 2, setting up the prospect of putting on a super-fight five years in the making.

"Mayweather, in my eyes, is the best fighter in the world. Mayweather would beat Pacquiao, who is open a lot and gets caught by a lot of shots," said Khan.

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