Amir Khan releases official statement on Mayweather vs Maidana, says he'll announce next fight within 10 days

Amir Khan isn't getting Floyd Mayweather on May 3, as Mayweather has opted instead to face the hotter name in Marcos Maidana. But Khan (28-3, 19 KO) has released an official statement hoping to clarify his position, but there is still the fact that few seem to be upset about what has transpired outside of -- and understandably so -- Khan and his team.

"Following the announcement by Floyd Mayweather that he will be facing Marcos Maidana on May 3rd I would like to clarify my situation for my fans and members of the media.

"Despite having signed my part of the agreement to fight Floyd in early December, I've been preparing myself for some time that the match up with him wasn't going to happen, as I announced on Twitter a few days ago. Therefore, this announcement did not come as a surprise.

"I am, however, very disappointed with Floyd and his team for not providing any explanation as to why he delayed the announcement for so long and ultimately avoided the fight with me.

"Clarification, if he was not fighting me, would have allowed me to look over my options and pursue another path, rather than the ultimate delay to my career this has caused.

"It has been a very frustrating period as I'd been due to fight in December against Devon Alexander, however, I was strongly advised to not take this fight as I would be facing Floyd this May - and therefore signed my side of the contract on this belief.

"Floyd was keen to engage with the fans and so decided to let them choose who he should fight in his next bout. I clearly won his official poll, by a significant margin, but for unknown reasons he decided to ignore the fans vote and failed to keep his word. Disappointing many fight fans who took the time to vote.

"I genuinely wish Marcos and Floyd all the best for their fight - two great fighters. As a team we have now moved on and are looking at different options.

"I've been training very hard since my last fight. I'm a fighter who wants to face the very best out there and have never ducked any opponent.

"I'm focused and ready for my next outing - we currently have a few options on the table at the moment and my team are working alongside Golden Boy Promotions to announce my next fight within the next 10 days.

"I can't wait to get back in the ring and am determined to put on a great show for my loyal fans who have waited a long time to see me back in action - and I'm very excited about what's yet to come this year. Thank you for all your continued support."

Personally, I still fail to see how he didn't avoid or "duck" the Alexander fight based on this statement. He acknowledges it was being worked on, which is public knowledge and had been for months, and then he was "advised" not to take it because he'd get the Floyd fight. What about fighting on December 7 would have prevented him from fighting on May 3 other than risking a loss to Alexander?

It's just hard to feel too bad, I think, when the reality is that Khan decided waiting to get Mayweather -- a fight that public did not react strongly to when it was first rumored/reported as being the idea for May 3 -- was the right course of action. He gambled that nothing else was available for Mayweather, and he wound up losing the bet because Maidana caught a straight flush on the river by beating Adrien Broner on December 14.