Amir Khan hopes victory over Chris Algieri will finally lead to Floyd Mayweather fight

Amir Khan takes on Chris Algieri in New York on Friday
He has been chasing a fight against Floyd Mayweather for two years
Mayweather has insisted he will fight for the last time in September
Khan is confident victory over Algieri will land him the big fight he craves

Published:
22:30 GMT, 23 May 2015

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Updated:
01:01 GMT, 24 May 2015

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If Amir Khan never touches gloves with Floyd Mayweather, it will not have been for the lack of trying.

After two years of relentlessly chasing the self-proclaimed ‘best ever’, the fight Khan craves remains a mirage in the Las Vegas desert. But with Mayweather insisting he will climb through the ropes just once more, in September, the Brit has launched a new charm offensive.

Gone is the barrier of Ramadan which Khan claims falls early enough this year to allow him 11 weeks of training for an autumn date with Mayweather. He even hopes that sharing a mutual final opponent with Manny Pacquiao in Chris Algieri will catapult him into the biggest payday of his career.

Amir Khan is preparing for his fight against Chris Algieri in New York next Friday

Algieri has not fought since losing a lop-sided decision to Manny Pacquiao last November

Khan faces Algieri in New York on Friday, seven months after the Long Island native was dropped six times by Pacquiao in a one-sided bout.

Khan said: ‘I’ve got to take care of Algieri but if I beat him it will lead to a big fight against Mayweather. It led Pacquiao to him. The world wanted to see that fight but it was Algieri who led Pacquiao to Mayweather.’

Khan believes he would give Mayweather the action-packed fight the world wanted — but did not get — against the Filipino.

‘I went to Pacquiao-Mayweather and everywhere I was going, people were saying I should fight him,’ said Khan. ‘Even Mayweather fans were saying that I could cause him more problems than Manny did.

‘You can understand it if it’s the UK fans who were saying I should fight Mayweather but it was the American fans. That shows that they see something in me and realise that I am the guy to give him problems.

‘I know the interest is there but it’s all about getting past Algieri and not only winning but looking good.

Khan last fought against Devon Alexander when he comfortably outpointed the American

Khan has been chasing a fight against Floyd Mayweather for more than two years

Khan hopes to face the self-proclaimed ‘best ever’ in September, in Mayweather’s final fight

‘Who else is there out there for Mayweather? He’s in a very difficult position. I’ve got a big fan base in the UK, Asia and Dubai and he wants to reach markets he hasn’t reached before and be a global star.

‘Styles make fights and I’m not saying it will be easy but it will be easier for me to reach him and hurt him than it was for Pacquiao.

‘I’ve seen his manager and the smile on his face said, “Amir you’ll be next, you’d better be ready”.

‘They probably thought they would leave me to it for this fight and as soon as it’s over we can sit down and talk.’

Khan also admitted, however, that Mayweather could opt for an easier opponent for his intended swansong. And so the 28-year-old knows he must remain focused on the task in hand, hence the 250 rounds of sparring he has notched up in preparation.

Khan said: ‘It’s probably the most I’ve ever done, we’re not taking this fight lightly.

‘I don’t think Algieri has faced anyone like me with my explosiveness, speed and movement. It’s going to be tough but I’ve got the engine to go all the way.’