MANILA, Philippines - Floyd Mayweather Jr. may fight in May but against someone else other than Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan.
Boxing’s golden boy said yesterday he doesn’t think the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will take place as the entire boxing public hopes.
“Is it going to happen? I don’t think so. That’s my personal opinion,” Oscar dela Hoya told Rick Reeno of www.boxingscene.com <http://www.boxingscene.com> .
Mayweather spoke to Showtime a few days back and mentioned his readiness to finally climb the ring against Pacquiao.
And if it doesn’t happen, then Mayweather’s best option is to face Khan.
“So, what’s Plan B for Mayweather? Not the fight that he wants, but the fight that he needs? Amir Khan,” added Dela Hoya of the 28-year-old British-Pakistani.
Khan looked great last Sunday in Vegas in outpointing Devon Alexander, a performance that put him in the elite welterweight circle with Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s former sparring partner was previously considered as a Mayweather opponent. But he didn’t get the fight, and the American superstar chose Marcos Maidana.
Khan, a silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics, had also been mentioned as a potential Pacquiao foe. But because they both trained under Freddie Roach then, they didn’t want the fight.
But now it all seems possible.
Dela Hoya told www.boxingscene.com <http://www.boxingscene.com> he now understands why Mayweather has kept Khan out of his way.
“Now I know why Floyd Mayweather doesn’t want to fight Amir Khan. Now I know why. I wouldn’t fight Amir. I wouldn’t fight Amir Khan either,” said Dela Hoya.
Any fight among Pacquiao, Mayweather and Khan should be a good fight.
“Let me just say this. You have Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and now you have Amir Khan. I do have to admit that right now Amir Khan is faster than Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather,” said Dela Hoya.
“He looked explosive, determined and he was in the zone,” added Dela Hoya of Khan.
The former light-welterweight champion is willing and ready to face either Mayweather or Pacquiao.
Khan is now the top contender.