Floyd Mayweather Next Fight: Amir Khan, Devon Alexander Favored Over Manny Pacquiao To Land 2015 Bout?

Amir Khan was prepared to get into the ring with Floyd Mayweather in late 2013, having signed an agreement to take on the undefeated boxer. Khan never got his fight and Mayweather went on to face Marcos Maidana twice in 2014, but it’s looking more and more likely that the Brit will finally get his shot at the champ.

Khan’s next fight is scheduled for Dec. 13 against Devon Alexander. According to Golden Boy Promotions president De La Hoya, the winner will get the honor of trying to hand Mayweather his first ever loss.

“The big prize is there for the winner and that is a fight against the Mayweathers of this world,” De La Hoya said. “I sure do expect to get (the winner) the Floyd Mayweather fight. Amir’s been wanting the major names for quite a while because he deserves it.”

Mayweather is still searching for his next opponent, who he’ll likely take on in May 2015. Khan has been viewed as the favorite to fight Mayweather, who defeated Maidana on Sept. 13.

It would be a significant upset if Khan can’t take care of business against Alexander. He’s listed as a 4/11 favorite at some sports books, and the oddsmakers have Alexander as either a 9/4 or 7/4 underdog.

Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight might be the biggest impediment to the Khan-Alexander winner getting a fight with Mayweather. While Mayweather has often bristled at the notion of ever doing business with Pacquiao and Top Rank, talk of the possible mega-fight continues, and Floyd Mayweather Sr. recently said he believes the fight will eventually happen.

Pacquiao might need a dominant victory over Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 to get a bout against Mayweather. After losing twice in 2012, PacMan continues his quest to prove that he’s among the sport’s elite. After beating Brandon Rios and taking his welterweight title back from Timothy Bradley, one more decisive victory could cement Pacquiao’s spot as the No.2 fighter in the division.

A loss for Pacquiao could end any chance of Mayweather and him ever meeting in the ring. Algieri has never lost as a pro and scored an impressive victory over Ruslan Provodnikov in June, but he doesn’t have much name recognition and is a +600 underdog to get the win.

If Khan scores a win over Alexander, he should be in good shape to get his fight with Mayweather. That would give him four victories in a row, including a dominant win over Luis Collazo in May.

There has been speculation that a win for both Pacquiao and Khan could mean they will meet in 2015, but if he has the option, Khan told fighthype.com that he prefers to fight Mayweather.

“I really think that he is going downhill and Floyd will be an easier fight...If I was him I would be avoiding me."