Amir Khan Will Never Fight Pacquiao, But Wants Mayweather in 2012

Amir Khan tells the Daily Mirror that while he will never fight Wild Card Gym colleague Manny Pacquiao, he's looking to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr as soon as next year.

"If you are going to be the best, you have to fight the best," Khan said. "I want to fight at the elite level to show people how good I am and I have the tools to beat Mayweather. I’m faster than him and I have a better punch, but he is technically brilliant and very smart. Those qualities will come to me in time, especially as I have the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. I think Mayweather will happen in 2012. But there will never be a fight between Manny and me. We respect each other too much. It just wouldn’t feel right."

Now whether or not Khan is actually faster than Mayweather is certainly up for debate, but this isn't the Mayweather of a few years ago, either, and his sitting around not boxing is certainly not helping him in his mid-30s. Khan would have youth and height on his side, though I don't think anyone would argue Khan is as well-rounded as Floyd, and certainly Khan has never faced anyone with Floyd's talent level or defensive ability. He's not quite as easy to hit as Marcos Maidana, Paul Malignaggi or Paul McCloskey. Khan, of course, knows that.

But assuming Khan just keeps winning, why not do it next year? Khan is highly confident in his abilities and frankly Mayweather will become very beatable sooner rather than later, even as great as he is. Age robs athletes of what they can do. Mayweather is great, but so was Roy Jones Jr at one time. Now look at him.