Floyd Mayweather's Next Fight Should Be Against Amir Khan

The next man up to challenge Floyd "Money" Mayweather needs to be Amir Khan.

That's right. Manny Pacquiao isn't a realistic option for Mayweather at this point. A loss to Pacquiao would tarnish the end of Money's career. After two more wins and a shot at 50-0, Mayweather should seek out Pacquiao. The stage would be set for the ultimate fight.

The bout would be some eight years in the making, with the chance of history for Mayweather. A win would be astounding, while a loss could set up a much-anticipated rematch.

But that's a talk we'll have in a little over a year. Let's focus on Khan for now.

The 27-year-old English boxer has reinvented his career under coach Virgil Hunter, as his explosiveness has helped him to fight consistently over his past few matches. This has given him some confidence heading into a potential fight against Mayweather.

Following Mayweather's unanimous win over Marcos "El Chino" Maidana, Khan made it known that he wants a crack at the undefeated champion, via Sky Sports:

"

After seeing him win I believe I will beat him.

Floyd, as we all know, isn't the biggest puncher. His footwork has slowed down, he only throws single punches and gets hit a lot more. We all know Maidana isn't the quickest, and he still got through with shots.

Now it makes sense why the fight isn't happening between me and Mayweather. Is he afraid of the speed, explosiveness and power? Floyd - let's get it on!

"

Taunting is a good ploy to grab Mayweather's attention. Mayweather is always on the pulse of what people are saying about him, so he'll more than likely have something to say back to his potential competitor.

The fact that Khan spoke about Mayweather's faults should really light a fire under the 37-year-old. Sure, Mayweather doesn't hit all that hard. And yes, he has lost a step or two over the years.

That said, he still took down Maidana—a much more powerful fighter, mind you—twice in the past four months.

The last point of Khan's remarks should incite the biggest response. Using the word "afraid" will set up an emotional fight between the two boxers.

Khan needs to be Mayweather's next opponent. Money is often criticized for choosing his competitors so specifically because he wants the most favorable matchups possible. That's a smart way to rack up wins (and money), but it's not always the best when it comes to the tally of quality opponents beaten.

Mayweather chose Maidana likely because of his slow speed, but it's time to choose an opponent with superior physical tools. Khan hits hard. He moves exceptionally. He strategizes well. In short, he's explosive.

If the fans want to see Mayweather actually fight Pacquiao, then he needs to go through a warm-up of sorts. Khan won't be an easy opponent, but he's a great fighter that Mayweather can use as a stepping stone if he can pull it out.

In the interest of his career and the boxing world, Mayweather and his people need to get on the horn with Khan and his supporters.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR