Several sources are reporting that Amir Khan will be the next opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Neither camp has denied or confirmed the reports, but credible sources insist Khan is the front-runner to face Mayweather May, 2014. (Main pic courtesy of Showtime)
And there are signs that validate these reports. As reported by ESPN UK, Khan was negotiating a fight with IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander for December of this year but ended the negotiations, deciding to not fight at all.
Is he holding out for Mayweather?
A loss for Khan against Alexander would prove devastating and would eliminate the Brit from contention as a possible Mayweather opponent in 2014.
Stephen Espinosa, head of Showtime Sports told the UK newspaper, Telegraph, if Khan was victorious against Alexander, Amir would be a legitimate opponent. He added, “It might be possible to do it in the UK or in New York. Floyd has spoken about the possibility of doing it in both those places.”
Speculations rose about Khan being Mayweather’s next opponent almost immediately after the Mayweather vs Canelo bout on September 14, when Khan tweeted the following day:
It is looking like an almost certainty that Mayweather will face Khan next. How much fan interest it will generate is questionable.
Showtime, Golden Boy, and Mayweather Promotions are banking on the Brit’s marketability in the United Kingdom as his fan base there. They believe, or are at least optimistic, his star power in the UK will help generate PPV numbers comparable to the Mayweather vs Canelo bout.
But are they disregarding the American fan base?
Most casual boxing fans don’t know who Amir Khan is or they no longer see him as a credible opponent after having lost 2 of his last 4 fights. From a competitive standpoint, Danny Garcia or Manny Pacquiao would seem like the better choice but Danny Garcia does not have the star power believed to generate jaw-dropping revenue and we are all too familiar with the Mayweather vs Pacquiao drama.
With Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto, Danny Garcia and Manny Pacquiao seemingly out of the picture, Amir Khan is the next likely option. However, given Khan’s recent losses and American fans’ dwindling interest in him, Mayweather vs Khan may fail to generate a suitable buzz in the States and produce subpar PPV numbers as a result.
It’s possible Mayweather vs Khan, if it happens in May, could generate modest revenue numbers similar to that of Mayweather vs Guerrero last May.
Canelo has a massive Hispanic following that transcends Mexico. He was also an undefeated champion with solid skills and generated tremendous interest as a result. But Khan does not have that kind of pull because his popularity is limited to the United Kingdom.
Even if there’s proof Mayweather vs Khan can match or exceed the UK’s Skybox PPV numbers generated by Mayweather vs Hatton, it does not guarantee a record breaking performance as Mayweather vs Hatton fails to rank in the top ten revenue-generating events of all time.
Showtime, Golden Boy, and Mayweather Promotions should consider all options when selecting a Mayweather opponent. And just because they perceive one to be a good opponent monetarily, he may dissapoint competitively.
Ultimately, it’s fan interest that generates revenue in the first place. Perhaps the fans should select the opponent? Would you pay for Mayweather vs Khan ?
