Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Where Do We Stand?

At this point, it’s been over a year that the Manny vs. Floyd Jr. discussions have been floating around without a destination. Negotiations were organized, and have failed on numerous occasions. Speculations as to why this kept happening, preventing the biggest fight available to us, were popping up by dozens at a time.

Fans made it their business to chew this topic over and over, creating more room for various accusations and excuses. The press has ravaged through everything: from Pacquiao and steroid use to Floyd being afraid of fighting Manny. With time, the idea of their mega fight coming to fruition kept dwindling.

In the midst of all the drama, another name came up for both Floyd and Manny. It is no other than Amir Khan: Freddie Roach’s second superstar.

In a recent interview in London, Amir stated that he will be ready to face either of two (Manny or Floyd) in 2011. Freddie thinks this fight is something to be taken with seriousness: “Amir is a great student. He absorbs, he listens and wants to learn. Amir has picked things up quicker than Manny Pacquiao.

"A fight between Amir and Mayweather would be a year and half away. Style-wise, it would be a great fight and I would like Amir to fight him one day.”

Khan’s promoter, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, has also showed interest, and is ready to make this fight happen at the end of next year.

Regarding Amir and Pacquiao fighting against each other, Roach showed no interest, saying “The fight won’t happen. Amir and Manny are very good friends.” At the same time, Freddie mentioned that when they spar, there are indeed days when Amir is able to give Manny a real challenge. I only wonder if the fight were to happen, whose corner would Roach be in?

Of course I think that Amir is a bit too small and a bit too green to step in the ring with either superstar. Manny would likely end the fight with an early to mid round knockout, while Mayweather would punish Amir round by round until Khan’s corner makes the move and throws in the towel.

Pacquiao is too strong/stocky for Amir, and would have very little trouble walking straight through Khan’s best punches. Sooner or later Amir would be on the receiving end of a counter blow, and would hit the canvas. Floyd would certainly have a bit more trouble and would have to put in more time and effort to add Amir to his unbeaten record.

Since Floyd is not much of a puncher, and at the same time is not ok with being hit at any time in the fight, I see the fight turning boring early on. One thing Mayweather Jr. knows how to do better than anyone else is adjust. In turn, by mid-rounds, Floyd would find the system and start landing clean. Mayweather would likely take that fight anytime, so that he could beat one of coach Roach’s fighters again.

Amir has been improving, and in year’s time he could turn into a real threat for anyone who shares the ring with him, including Manny and Floyd. At the same time, what are the realistic chances that either Manny of Floyd will still be in the game end of next year?