Victor Ortiz vs. Amir Khan: The Winner Gets Floyd Mayweather

The 24-year-olds Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 Knockouts) and Amir Khan (26-1, 18 Knockouts) have both talked about facing the still-undefeated Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 Knockouts).

Ortiz just fought him this past September 17 and lost by fourth-round knockout. Khan has yet to even step up to welterweight (147 pounds) from his junior welterweight (140 pounds) division domination.

Many who watched Mayweather vs. Ortiz have clamored for a rematch thanks to the sucker-punch Mayweather landed to knockout Ortiz out as Ortiz apologized for intentionally headbutting him earlier in the fight.

Mayweather and many veteran boxers and boxing media have excused the knockout by repeating the golden rule of boxing, "protect yourselves at all times." Ortiz broke this rule and paid dearly.

Khan also wants to move up in weight and try his skills against lesser welterweights before facing Mayweather in late 2012. Why not face Ortiz?

Some members of the boxing public might not purchase another Ortiz fight against Mayweather unless he wins against someone else first to justify his rematch potential.

Khan needs to face a challenging welterweight to properly gauge and improve his skills with the help of Manny Pacquiao's legendary trainer, Freddie Roach.

Khan beat Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 Knockouts) late last year, the man who gave Ortiz his first knockout loss.

That adds an extra layer of drama to the fight.

Both men are also promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, who would be happy to pit two of their best against one another.

Ortiz has a career that needs to be rebuilt for the second time. Golden Boy may feel this is his last chance to come back from an embarrassment following his knockout losses to Maidana and Mayweather.

Khan needs an opponent that his victory over can convince the world he's the one to beat Mayweather.

If Khan can do better against Ortiz than Mayweather did against Ortiz, he easily convinces the jaded post-Mayweather/Ortiz audience of his credibility.

Thus, Mayweather-Khan becomes a highly anticipated and bankable fight.

If Khan loses, he just goes back down to junior welterweight and says welterweight is too big for him right now in his career.

An Ortiz rematch becomes easier to sell if Ortiz beats Khan. The crossroads aspect of this match means possibly millions will watch this on normal HBO programs.

With the type of fight-of-the-year performances Ortiz and Khan have put on before against Maidana and Andre Berto (28-1, 22 Knockouts), this match will surely be a candidate for 2012's fight of the year.