Will victory over Devon Alexander give Amir Khan his craved title shot?
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Amir Khan faces Devon Alexander at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas later this month knowing his career hangs in the balance.
Win and the Bolton-born, Olympic gold medallist will surely earn a shot against one of the welterweight division’s three champions, lose and his dream of lifting another strap could be over.
The Brit is the clear favourite to beat Alexander at 4/9, while the American is priced at 7/4. So with a routine win for King Khan expected, who is the most likely to fight next in 2015.
Kell Brook – 4/7 to be Khan’s next opponent
There is no love lost between the two Brits and the bookies make the Sheffield man the favourite of the three welterweight champions to be Khan’s next opponent.
A scrap between the former WBA and IBF light welterweight champion and the current IBF welterweight strap holder would be a great domestic seller and, according to the betting Khan’s best chance of realising his dream.
Should the fight be made, Ladbrokes think Khan’s devastating hand speed will tell and price Khan at 8/13 to take Brook’s belt.
Floyd Mayweather JR – 11/4
Mayweather has broken Khan’s heart once already by reneging on an agreement to fight in order to give Marcos Maidana a rematch.
Khan knows that while the Brook fight will attract a huge domestic audience, a date with the undefeated WBA and WBC champ would be the biggest payday of his career.
There are many that feel Mayweather will continue to dodge the fight, as Khan, despite losing three times already, is just too dangerous an opponent to risk his undefeated record against and it’s likely Khan will have to fight and beat Brook in order to finally earn his shot.
It’s probably for the best, however, with Ladbrokes rating the Brit’s chances of beating Pretty Boy Floyd at just 3/1.
Manny Pacquiao – 4/1
Ladbrokes make the eight-division and current WBO welterweight champions the least likely to step into the ring with Khan at 4/1.
Rumours persist that the Pac Man is braced to finally fight pound-for-pound king Mayweather in Dubai next year and, win or lose, the bout would most likely be the Filipino’s last professional outing.
Ladbrokes make this theoretical fight a close call, with Khan priced at 9/4 – assuming he beats Alexander – and while the Brit would probably relish the chance it’s Mayweather he really wants.
Conclusion
Expect Khan to make relatively light work of Alexander on December 14th before hostilities with Brook are renewed with the winner potentially going on to face the man they call Money.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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