Who will Floyd Mayweather fight next? The question has been bantered ever since Mayweather’s win over Canelo Alvarez September 14.
For months the presumptive frontrunner was Amir Khan who was all but a shoe-in to be ‘Money May’s’ dance partner this spring.
Now, Khan’s status is seemingly in limbo despite his trouncing of Marcos Maidana in an online fan poll asking fans who boxing’s top star should fight next.
The charismatic Khan has a large, very engaged fan base so the outcome should have been of no surprise to anyone. But are the Khan faithful anything more than just casual fans of the Sweet Science?
If the popular Brit of Pakistani descent loses to Mayweather on May 3rd, how many of them will be interested in future Mayweather bouts or Golden Boy events, with or without Khan?
It would be irresponsible for Golden Boy Promotions, The Money Team and Showtime/CBS to not take those questions into consideration.
Mayweather vs Khan would likely be a massive draw in terms of sheer volume and potential revenue but would such a bout have detrimental long term ramifications on boxing’s base, the rabid fans who spend money on the sport year round?
After all, if Mayweather vs Khan takes place and Floyd wins easily, it will only fuel hardcore fans’ outrage because the general consensus among them will have been the fight was a mis-match from the start.
If Khan doesn’t score the upset or do something dramatic, fight fans will undoubtedly say, “We told you so.”
From a credibility standpoint, the only way Mayweather vs Khan is salvaged is if Khan gives boxing’s top star the fight of his life.
Is Mayweather vs Khan too much risk for the presumed financial reward?
