Ramadan won’t stop me fighting Mayweather - Khan

AMIR Khan has raised the possibility of a September showdown with Floyd Mayweather after insisting his observance of Ramadan would not prevent him fighting the unbeaten American.

Amir Khan says Ramadan wouldnt prevent him fighting American Floyd Mayweather. Picture: Getty

The Muslim festival ends on 17 July this year and Bolton-born Khan believes that date leaves sufficient time to embark on his training camp in preparation to face the undisputed welterweight champion. Mayweather confirmed after outpointing Manny Pacquiao on Sunday that he will retire once he completes his six-bout deal with US cable and satellite network Showtime, with his final outing set be in Las Vegas in September. Khan believes that eight weeks would be enough time for him to face the reigning pound-for-pound king if chosen as his next opponent.

“I’m not ruling out fighting in September because it’s possible that it could happen,” Khan said.

“Mayweather only fights in mid-September and Ramadan will be a little earlier this year, which helps. It gives me enough time to get the training done. So it can happen in September.”

Khan faces Chris Algieri in New York on 29 May and is unwilling to look beyond his light-punching opponent, who was knocked down six times by Pacquiao during a massive points defeat in November.

“I need to win this fight if I’m to get near any of the big names in boxing. It’s time to fight Chris Algieri, I’m not going to be fighting Mayweather until I win this fight,” Khan said. “Winning this fight is everything to me. I’m not looking past Chris because I’ve made that mistake in the past. There are bigger fights out there for me, but this is my focus.”

A potential roadblock to Khan’s chances of meeting an opponent he has long pursued is the possibility of a rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao after it emerged that the Filipino was carrying a shoulder injury that required major surgery on Wednesday.

Pacquiao suffered the injury, a torn rotator cuff, during a sparring session approximately three weeks ago and blamed the injury for his unanimous points defeat to Mayweather.

The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) says he did not declare a problem in a pre-fight questionnaire and subsequently refused his request for a pain-killing injection two hours before the fight. Pacquiao, who revealed the extent of his shoulder injury meant he effectively fought Mayweather with only one hand, denies hiding the injury from authorities and revealed his camp made the US Anti-Doping Agency aware of the injury.

It will be April at the earliest that Pacquiao can fight again and Mayweather has little sympathy for a foe he defeated with such conviction. Mayweather said on social media: “19 years in the fight game and I’ve had one excuse: ‘Don’t have an excuse’. Winners win and losers have excuses.”