Amir Khan’s dream fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr has inched a step after winning a fan poll – but former coach Freddie Roach says the Bolton fighter can’t beat the American.
At the start of the month Mayweather Jr invited supporters on Twitter to select who his next opponent would be, with Khan and Marcos Maidana battling it out in the ballot.
After much speculation it has been confirmed that Kahn, former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion, topped the poll and is now favourite to take on Mayweather in Las Vegas.
The 36-year-old is unbeaten in 45 career fights, and before launching the poll said: “I’m going to let the fans vote. Tell me who I should fight next. Khan or Maidana?”
The voting which closed on Sunday, concluded with Khan recording a 60% majority of the 35,000 votes cast.
Khan will have his work cut out as Mayweather is considered by many as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and one of the greatest to have ever stepped into the ring.
Several figures within the sport believe that Khan has the tools needed to hand Mayweather his first ever career defeat, most notably his electrifying hand speeds.
Khan’s former trainer, Freddie Roach was recently reported as saying he believed Khan had what it took to beat Mayweather.
Speaking to BoxingScene.com, Freddie Roach has cleared up these earlier comments by stating he does not believe Khan can cause an upset.
“I said in public that Amir Khan has a good style for Mayweather. But I never said he was going to beat Mayweather,” Roach said. “I don’t think he can beat Mayweather, but he can give him trouble. He’s very athletic, he’s in and out very quick.
“His problem is that he likes to stay in the pocket a little bit too long sometimes, and that usually costs him. When it costs him, he doesn’t have a great chin. And let’s face it, Mayweather can punch when he wants to.
“When he wants to draw you in, if you look at his fights against Ricky Hatton and a couple other guys, he can punch when he wants to.”
Mayweather is currently the highest paid athlete in the world and will collect a huge seven figure sum for completing the bout on May 3.
Rumours of a fight between the pair have circulated for several months and after winning the poll Khan is expected to take on Mayweather in the biggest fight of his career.
