AMIR KHAN HITS BACK AT MAYWEATHER, CALLS HIM ?CHILDISH?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Aug 2015
World Boxing Council welterweight Silver champion Amir Khan has hit back at undefeated pound for pound No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr and branded him "childish" and believes the American star will not be remembered as a great fighter.
The two-time world champion has once again been frustrated in his efforts to land a fight with Mayweather, who instead selected Andre Berto for his 49th bout in Las Vegas on September 12.
During a press conference to announce the Berto fight, Mayweather was asked about his reluctance to battle Khan and suggested that Khan could earn a shot if he avenges his 2012 stoppage defeat by Danny Garcia.
Richard Damerell of Sky Sports in Britain reported that boxing?s biggest star was shrugged off by Khan as he feels the 38-year-old is continuing to tarnish his reputation by avoiding him.
Khan said "He?s just putting all these obstacles in front of me, because he knows that obviously I?m a big threat to him. Work it out. Look at my last few opponents and he?s fighting Berto, no disrespect to Berto, who is a friend of mine, but obviously there are levels in boxing. I think he?s just being a little childish and he knows that Amir Khan will give him a tough fight and he?s kind of avoiding it.?
Khan was quoted by Damerell as saying "If he?s not going to man up and fight me, then I?ll have to fight Manny Pacquiao or someone like that. Someone who would fight me. I think even though Mayweather is a great champion, I don?t think he will be remembered as a great fighter because if he?s not fighting the top guys then he?s waiting until they get old when he knows the guys in front of him would give him problems. He?s cherry picking his fights.?
Khan added. "All the very best to Floyd Mayweather, if the fight happens between me and Mayweather it happens."
Khan expects to return to the ring in late November or December and still has plenty of exciting options to consider. WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman is calling for a clash, while Khan is confident that a thrilling showdown with former gym-mate Manny Pacquiao can be agreed upon.
Khan who met with Pacquiao earlier this year in London had discussed a possible showdown and said "I really believe that fight can be made quite easily. I think Manny is a man and he would definitely take the fight."
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who has been eager to stage a big fight card in Dubai has spoken about a possible Pacquiao-Khan showdown in the United Arab Emirates where there is a huge Filipino community and thousands of ex-pats working in Dubai.
A possible Wembley Stadium clash with Kell Brook, the current IBF king, also appears to be part of Khan?s future plans after he held talks with Brooks? promoter Eddie Hearn last month.
Khan has said he would love a chance to settle their long-term rivalry in front of a huge audience at the national stadium. He made ot clear "That?s a fight I would love to have in the future. Somewhere like Wembley would definitely sell out for that fight. "It?s a fight that everyone has wanted for years and years. It can potentially be one of the biggest fights in Britain. That?s the reason I want the fight is to prove a point and give him a beating and put him in his place really, so then everyone in the UK knows who the best welterweight is."
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