After delivering an excellent performance to out-box Devon Alexander in December, British welterweight Amir Khan reiterated his desire to secure a showdown with either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao. But after the two most lucrative stars in boxing agreed to face each other in Las Vegas on May 2, Khan was left in limbo regarding his next fight.
There are still a number of huge fights out there for the former 140lbs world champion, but with a future match with either Mayweather or Pacquiao still his main aim, it's important that the 28-year-old selects the right opponent for his return to the ring, which is expected to come in late May or early June.
Below, Sports Mole suggests five fighters that could face Khan in the coming months.
1. Adrien Broner
Adrien Broner had widely been considered to be the heir to Mayweather's throne before losing to Marcos Maidana at the end of 2013, but despite chinks in his armour being identified, the brash American still has the potential to become one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in today's game, providing that he can improve a lifestyle and an image that has seen him involved in controversy on more than a few occasions.
The three-weight world champion has been solid but unspectacular in his matches since the Maidana defeat, but three successive wins have led to Broner calling for a major fight in his next outing. Danny Garcia is a potential target, but over the past few days, Broner has called on Khan to face him in his next contest.
Khan has responded by telling Broner he will take the fight, suggesting that negotiations could take place, but if the duo were to meet, it would have to be at 147lbs, a weight at which Broner has delivered two unconvincing performances. The scalp of Broner would be huge for Khan, but after beginning to establish himself at light-welterweight, it would be a money-orientated move should Broner return to his previous division.
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2. Keith Thurman
Since coming onto the world scene Keith Thurman has attracted plenty of admirers for his fast hands and explosiveness, but it has also resulted in a number of fighters shirking the chance to fight the unbeaten American. Thurman now holds the WBA title, a belt he successfully defended against Robert Guerrero last weekend, and that bounty is likely to see more potential opponents show a willingness to face a man who has indicated that he won't avoid any fight put in front of him.
Khan falls into the same mindset as Thurman, and a showdown between the two would be a huge fight in the division. Thurman has frequently branded the former Olympic silver medallist over-rated, something that probably doesn't sit well with Khan, but although the Bolton fighter is likely to be willing to take the fight, it would be questioned why he would take a meeting with Thurman over a Wembley showdown with Kell Brook on June 13.
3. Miguel Cotto
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When Mayweather's negotiations with Pacquiao were reported to have broken down, Miguel Cotto's name was thrown into the ring as a potential opponent for Mayweather, despite holding the WBC middleweight title. The Puerto Rican is one of the biggest names in the sport, but there wasn't a whole lot of excitement over a potential rematch being the pair.
Earlier this year, a tweet from Khan suggested that he would jump at the chance to fight Cotto, even if it meant competing at a catch-weight in the region of 151lbs, and with both men still to confirm their next fight, the possibility remains that they could meet in New York. Much will likely depend on Cotto's willingness to face Gennady Golovkin in September, because it seems unlikely that the 34-year-old would consider mega fights with Khan and Golovkin in the space of a few months.
4. Timothy Bradley
Despite not recording a win since his split-decision triumph over Juan Manuel Marquez in October 2013, Timothy Bradley remains one of the biggest names in the welterweight division. He was comfortably beaten by Pacquiao in their rematch last year, but he should have been awarded the win over Diego Chaves in December, despite the judges combining to rule the bout as a draw.
Bradley still holds an impressive resume though, including a win over Alexander and Ruslan Provodnikov, and despite Khan once claiming that Bradley turned down a fight with him at 140lbs, there's no doubt that both men would welcome the match in a couple of months' time. The fight makes sense, with Khan needing progression and Bradley needing a platform to atone for the controversial Chaves result. If the money is right, there is little reason why they can't headline an event in New York or California.
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5. Kell Brook
The rivalry between Khan and Brook has been well documented for a number of years, and with Brook managing to gain possession of the IBF title last August, it seemed inevitable that a fight at Wembley would be made for this summer. However, Khan's pursuit of Mayweather and Brook's injuries from a stabbing incident and mandatory obligations against Jo Jo Dan resulted in troubles with logistics for any encounter to take place in the summer.
However, if Khan is planning on fighting on either May 30, June 6 or June 13, there seems little reason why the pair can't headline in front of 80,000 in London. Fights with Broner or Bradley would also make sense for Khan, but rather than trying to build his reputation in America, he has the opportunity to headline one of the biggest events in British boxing history as well as gaining a belt to tempt Mayweather or Pacquiao into a unification clash. Realistically, the fight won't happen this year, even if Brook successfully defends against Dan, but it's a showdown that is unlikely to grow any bigger than it already has done.
Darren Plant
