• Boxing

Khan ready for Mayweather or Pacquiao, says De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya has tipped Amir Khan to become one of the world's greatest fighters © PA Photos

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Oscar De La Hoya believes Amir Khan deserves to be put in the ring with either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao - and wouldn't be surprised if the Briton emerged victorious.

Khan fights American Devon Alexander in a WBC "silver" welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, but has long desired a bout with either Mayweather or his former gym partner Pacquiao.

Mayweather has overlooked Khan twice for Marcos Maidana despite the Bolton fighter topping an online poll set up by the pound-for-pound champion. Golden Boy president De La Hoya believes now is the time for Khan to be given his shot.

"I'm pushing for a Pacquiao fight," De La Hoya said. "I'm also pushing for a Mayweather fight. Amir Khan has been having eliminator after eliminator. The time for him is now. He deserves to be fighting Floyd Mayweather. He deserves to be fighting Manny Pacquiao."

"It really rubs me the wrong way that Amir has been promised fighting the likes of Mayweather and Pacquiao and it hasn't happened yet. He is at the perfect moment of his career.

"One thing is for sure: 2015 is going to be his year. He is a force to be reckoned with, a threat to everyone in the welterweight division. I've always said if you put him up to the test, if you put him up against a Floyd Mayweather, a Manny Pacquiao, don't be surprised if he wins."

There are other blockbuster options for Khan; IBF champion Kell Brook, who is back in training after suffering a knife attack in September, is keen to fight his British rival. De La Hoya believes that fight would be a big-seller, but is not his preferred option.

"I can see that type of fight happening at Wembley Stadium, for instance, in front of a hundred thousand people," De La Hoya said. "That would possibly be plan B."

For now, focus remains on the threat of Alexander. However, De La Hoya is convinced Khan can make a name for himself among the world's greatest.

"Amir Khan is just beginning, he has a lot of fight left in him," De La Hoya said. "He's still learning and he's still growing; he's getting stronger and he's getting faster. He's more motivated than ever.

"If he keeps winning, if he keeps on getting into these big fights that are promised, I really do feel that Amir Khan can be one of the top fighters of all time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd