Las Vegas is buzzing right now, here in mid fight-week as we approach Saturday’s Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan catch-weight super-fight; and Khan thinks “retired” great Floyd Mayweather is jealous and is missing the big Vegas attention he used to command when he was fighting at The MGM Grand. Speaking with BBC Sport, Khan, a significant underdog against Alvarez, says Mayweather has spoken about a possible comeback simply because he misses the attention he and Canelo are now enjoying.
Not only that, but Khan says he doesn’t think he would take the fight – one that he absolutely craved a few months back – if Floyd did make a ring return.
“He messed me around, so I’d probably treat him the same way – I don’t think I’d take that fight,” Khan said. “Floyd’s probably missing having his picture on the MGM. Mayweather’s feeling like no-one’s talking about him, that he’s old news, and maybe that’s why he’s trying to get everyone supporting him again by saying, ‘I want to make a comeback.’”
Well, as much as many people (Bob Arum included) are convinced Mayweather will indeed make a return to the ring, Floyd himself has not officially announced anything; merely stating how he would possibly come back if he were to get a nine-figure payday and a championship fight. Would Mayweather get either of those things if he did come back and chose Khan as his opponent? Not likely, even if Khan did shock Alvarez (he would then hold a major title but he would be contracted to fight Alvarez again, as per the rematch clause that is in place).
Khan has long insisted that he, and he alone, is the only fighter capable of defeating Mayweather due to the incredible speed he has. If Khan is right, why then would Mayweather – if he did return – pick a fight so dangerous to his “0?” The rumour mill says Mayweather will pick current WBC welterweight champ Danny Garcia if he does return, and Khan’s conqueror is of course a far bigger name in the US than Khan.
Floyd may well be missing the limelight, but don’t all retired fighters? Mayweather has made announcements close to a rival big fight before in an attempt to steal the headlines, but until Mayweather officially announces a return date and an opponent, talk of his coming back will remain just that. And Khan should be focused and thinking about one fighter and one fighter only right now, shouldn’t he.