• Boxing

Ortiz not in Mayweather's league - Khan

ESPN staff
June 20, 2011
Victor Ortiz faces Floyd Mayweather Jnr in September © Getty Images
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Amir Khan believes that Floyd Mayweather Jnr's September opponent Victor Ortiz is not in the same class as the unbeaten American.

Mayweather makes his long-awaited return to the ring against Ortiz, having not been in action since outpointing Shane Mosley in May 2010.

Ortiz is not expected to threaten Mayweather's claim to the pound-for-pound throne when the two meet in Las Vegas - an assessment that Khan agrees with.

"Victor won a world title and he's very dangerous," Khan told the On the Ropes radio show. "He has a lot of power and everything, but I think Floyd just has that style where he's very perfect, he's very smart, and he can break down someone like Victor Ortiz who has far less experience.

"Victor Ortiz has got a lot of heart and he'll be there all the way, but I don't think he's matched on the same level as Floyd Mayweather. I think Mayweather is maybe a level ahead."

Meanwhile, Khan insists his July 23rd date with Zab Judah is a more treacherous fight then he would have faced against Timothy Bradley, who Khan was initially expected to take on.

"With Tim Bradley I don't think he's a big puncher," Khan said. "Bradley is not as awkward as Zab Judah. Zab Judah's a southpaw and he's quite awkward that way. I think yeah, in my eyes I think this fight is a tougher fight than Bradley. The Bradley fight was the one that I wanted to have a big unification fight, but he turned it down and then I had to go with this one.

"Zab makes a lot of mistakes and he's got a lot habits that will always be there. So we're just going to capitalise on them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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