Amir Khan is ready to step in if Mayweather v Pacquiao fails to come off
By Phil Barnett
Amir Khan expects rivals Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to finally clash in May but is waiting in the wings to fight either of them should the blockbuster showdown fall through again.
The Bolton welterweight is aiming to return to the ring in May and has been chasing a fight against pound-for-pound king Mayweather for over a year.
He believes he will have to wait even longer to face the American because Mayweather and Pacquiao are so close to signing contracts to face each other. However, he is ready and waiting to step in if the long-awaited bout fails to come off.
"I'm looking at a few possible opponents for my May fight, there are a few names in there but nothing's decided just yet," he said.
"We've been in talks with Mayweather and Pacquiao but I believe they are fighting each other, so I've lost two possible opponents there.
"I wanted Miguel Cotto but I don't think that'll happen. That would have been a good catchweight fight. There's also Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, so there are a few names there.
"I've left it to my advisor Al Haymon and I'm sure he'll do a good job of sorting it."
It's believed the Mayweather-Pacquiao contest is close to being signed after years of on-off negotiations and trash-talking.
Khan is also confident that long-awaited fight will happen but is returning to training next week and insists he is next in line to fight either man if it does fail to come off.
"I believe it will happen because both parties want it. The world wants it. It's been such a long wait and if it doesn't happen now, then it will never happen," he said.
"Various things have been said but it's a big fight, there's big money in it and it's a business, at the end of the day.
"I'm definitely second choice opponent for both of them if the fight falls through. No matter what.
"If it doesn't happen I might get that phone call saying 'Amir, you and Mayweather get it on'. That's why I'm back in training. I'll be in shape and ready for whoever it is."
Khan, who returns to his American training base in California on Sunday, expects to fight in New York or Las Vegas in May.