Roach: Khan close to Mayweather fight

Amir Khan will be ready to face Floyd Mayweather after just one more fight, according to trainer Freddie Roach.

Amir Khan will be ready to face Floyd Mayweather after just one more fight, according to trainer Freddie Roach.

Khan’s camp are considering their next move after the 24-year-old demolished Zab Judah in the fifth round of their clash at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre.

Promoters Golden Boy are lining him up for a blockbusting showdown with Mayweather next year, but Roach believes it could happen sooner.

“I do believe Amir’s speed can trouble Mayweather but Mayweather is a very good boxer and is very slick,” he said.

“We’d love to take on the winner of his fight with Victor Ortiz.

“Mayweather isn’t fighting until September and it can’t happen right away, so I’d like to slip one more fight in there before then.

“We will fight again in December and then maybe go for Mayweather.

“I’d really like for Amir to clean up at light-welterweight and unify those titles first, because that hasn’t been done in a long time.”

Khan was able to reflect on one of his finest victories in demolishing veteran southpaw Judah.

A right uppercut to the body dropped Judah, who failed to beat the count, and the American immediately declared he had been floored by a low blow.

But he was just about the only person in attendance claiming foul play and he had been well beaten by the hand speed and aggression of Khan.

Timothy Bradley, Erik Morales and Robert Guerro head the list of names being considered for his next opponent, but Khan is content to face any of them.

“I’ll fight anyone and there are some big names out there for me. I’ll take a look at the short list,” said Khan,

“My aim is to move up the pound for pound rankings and to one day be pound for pound champion. I want to be the best fighter in the world.

“I’m still a fight or two away from there yet. At 25 I’ll fight at 147 pounds and see where we go from there.

“We just keep on collecting titles, that’s what we want to do. I’m only 24 and there’s a lot of improvement to come.

“The Mayweather fight is something I’m looking at for the future and it would be huge for me. It would drive me on.

“I’ve got the speed and the skills and with (trainer) Freddie Roach polishing me up a little more, it’s a fight we can win.”

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