WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan expects to be campaigning at 147lbs by this time next year and wants to be pencilled in to meet five-weight world champion by the end of next year. The 24 year-old from Bolton, England sees his future at the higher weight, but still hopes to unify 140lbs this year.
?King? Khan has been linked with a fight with IBF champion Zab Judah after the pair exchanged angry words recently and knows he will have to face the best fighters out there if he wants to gain the experience needed to mix it with one of the best welterweights of all-time in Mayweather Jr.
?If you are going to be the best, you have to fight the best,? Khan told UK tabloid The Daily Mirror.
?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.?
Mayweather, 34, has recently surpassed over a year out of the ring and has several non-boxing related issues to deal with in his life. The WBN pound for pound number three says he won?t be rushed into a return, but has been linked with a challenge against new WBC 147lb champion Victor Ortiz later this year.
