British boxer Amir Khan is being lined up for a possible clash with American champion Floyd Mayweather this time next year, Sky Sports reported Tuesday.
Golden Boy Promotions are hoping Khan will successfully defend his WBA light-welterweight title against Marcos Maidana in December before unifying the division by taking on the winner of Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander.
This would boost Khan's pay-par-view ratings in America to make a fight with Mayweather viable, in the event that a clash between Mayweather and Khan's stablemate Manny Pacquiao is not made.
That fight is one the whole boxing world wants to see, but so far negotiations have not been successful while the issue is further clouded by Mayweather's upcoming court appearance in relation to charges of battery and grand larceny.
It is unlikely Pacquiao will extend his career beyond next spring, which is likely to be the last time the two teams will look to stage the "mega-fight."
But Golden Boy bosses are keen to exploit the box office appeal of the "Money Man," with Khan clearly the man they hope can fill any breach.
"If we can't make Mayweather-Pacquiao in the spring it may be too late," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told the Daily Mail. "So this gives us time to build Amir into a pay-per-view superstar in the U.S."
