Mayweather hints at next foe

Grand Rapids – Unbeaten US fighter Floyd Mayweather hinted that the identity of his next foe, speculated to be Britain’s Amir Khan, could be revealed this week.
In a report on Tuesday on the MLive Media Group website from Mayweather’s home state of Michigan, Mayweather was quoted as saying last week that this week could be a big one.

Asked about his fight future, Mayweather said, “Next week. I’m looking forward to next week. But as for me right now I’m not thinking about boxing.”

Mayweather, 45-0 with 26 knockouts, is expected to fight on May 3 of next year in his first bout since taking the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light middleweight titles in a 12-round majority decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on 14 September.

Khan became the top speculative candidate after he failed to sign a deal that appeared set to face American Devon Alexander this Saturday, the talk being that he did not want to risk a chance for a big-money fight with Mayweather by taking on Alexander first.

While both camps denied that was the case, the move meant Khan has fought only once this year, the fewest bouts of any year in his career. His last bout was a unanimous decision victory in April over Mexico’s Julio Diaz. Asked about facing Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, the fighter that boxing fans have wanted Mayweather to fight for several years, the 36-year-old champion only replied: “Who?”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao says he is ready to fight Mayweather – but it is up to the American as to when it happens.

Pacquiao, from the Philippines, gained his first win in two years as he beat Brandon Rios on Saturday to take the WBO international welterweight title.

Promotional disputes and other issues have previously prevented a fight with Mayweather.

“My job is to fight,” Pacquiao said after his win in Macau. “I am willing to fight Floyd. So it’s up to him.”

Pacquiao and Mayweather are generally considered the best fighters of their generation, with the Filipino having won world titles at eight weights and the American at five.

But their camps have never been able to agree a deal over a bout, with one stumbling block being Mayweather’s insistence on a strict blood-testing programme during training.-BBC.