Mayweather Sr " I'm not aware of any negotiations that took place" -- 8CountNews

By Brad Cooney, 8CountNews.com

When 8CountNews got Floyd Mayweather Sr on the record some weeks back, he told us that he was not aware of any negotiations that were taking place. At the time he said this I honestly didn't believe what he said was entirely true. Perhaps I was wrong? 8CountNews has been reporting throughout this whole ordeal that this fight was not, and still is not a done deal. The bottom line is this, someone is lying as it pertains to the negotiations. Arum says that negotiations have been taking place, and the Mayweather side are saying that there has been no negotiations.

Mayweather is a smart guy, and he knows exactly what he is doing. No deadline will speed up the process. Mayweather will sign when it makes sense to. Right now his uncle, and trainer is staring at some jail time. Taxes are another issue, Floyd isn't interested in paying taxes on 40 million dollars in 2010. Most people do believe that this fight will happen, but more than likely not until early 2011.

Arum is now looking at matching up Pacquiao with either Miguel Cotto in a rematch, or with Antonio Margarito. Most people do not feel as if Margarito deserves a shot at Pacquiao, nor does he deserve to fight period. Neither Cotto, or Margarito really excite the boxing fans. A Cotto rematch will probably just be a replay of the first beat down.

Mayweather has been shooting hoops with a youth basketball league, and enjoying some down time with his family. He doesn't sweat deadlines. Floyd knows that he is a huge draw, and he knows that Arum needs him.

The fans have been the recipients of all kinds of wack information on this fight. Done deal headlines, fight is on, fight is off, fight is on again, fight is off again etc.... Headlines with no sources, followed by a bunch of back peddling and spinning trumped up garbage to make it look as if people really know what is going on, when in truth they are clueless. The whole ordeal has been one big circus act.

The truth is, not many people really know what the hell is going on. Some publications are rolling the dice as if trying to hit the lottery and putting up juicy headlines. These headlines are designed to gravitate boxing fans, primarily Pacquiao fans, to that in particular site. The truth is that most of them have no idea what is going on no matter how hard they try to portray that they do.

As I said before, when you see the press conference and a smiling Bob Arum waiving a Filipino flag and an American flag A.K.A. Dong King style, then we have a fight on our hands. Until you see something like that, don't believe that hype.

Source: 8countnews.com

Floyd Mayweather, JR – Manny Pacquiao Pound for Pound Bombshell -- Ringside Report

By Geno McGahee, Ringside Report

Bob Arum has noted that the super fight between the two pound for pound best fighters in the world may not happen due to a missed deadline. Floyd Mayweather, JR., 41-0, 25 KO’s, has been on the radar of Filipino superstar, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s, for quite some time, but several factors have prevented the fight from happening.

The Deadline

Bob Arum has gone public and said that because Mayweather, JR., has missed the deadline for exclusive negotiations rights, he has stated that Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto are now in the mix for Pacquiao opponents. Cotto has already lost to Pacquiao by TKO in the 12th round, dominating the Puerto Rican star for the majority of the fight. A rematch would mean zero and the boxing fans would not buy the fight as a viable challenge to Pacquiao.

Antonio Margarito has problems with getting the right to fight in the states due to his cheating ways, loading his gloves, using Plaster of Paris in his hand wraps. When he didn’t have loaded gloves, Margarito was easily defeated by Shane Mosley, and most believe that Pacquiao would have a field day with the slow of foot Mexican fighter and not too many are even interested in Margarito after his disgusting behavior.

Timothy Bradley Challenge

Timothy Bradley, fresh off his one-sided win over Luis Carlos Abregu, made the challenge: “I want Manny Pacquiao!” It’s the equivalent of saying: “I want money,” because Pacquiao is one of the biggest draws in boxing and Bradley has flown under the radar of the mainstream. His lack of punching power and charisma make him an unlikely choice by Team Pacquiao. As talented as Bradley is, he does not bring the name value to merit a pay per view challenge.

Floyd Mayweather, JR., should a Pacquiao fight not materialize most likely would not entertain a fight with Bradley either because it’s little reward, high risk. Style-wise, Bradley is a bad match up for Money Mayweather. It would be a more difficult fight for him then Pacquiao would be.

Floyd’s Denial

Recently, Mayweather has denied any existence of any deadline and has gone as far as to say that there were never any concrete plans to take on Pacquiao. This statement can be challenged and will most likely be disproved in the near future. All of the details of the negotiations have been kept quiet by contract and a November 13th deadline was the plan for this fight and still may be, but there is a big problem for Money Mayweather.

Roger Mayweather’s legal problems

In August of 2009, Roger Mayweather, trainer to Floyd, was arrested for attacking a female fighter, choking her and physically striking her several times. This case is still hanging over his head and it is likely that the “Black Mamba” will be placed in a cell for some time for this assault. Without his trainer, Floyd may not be mentally ready for the biggest challenge of his career.

Boosting the Gate

There is a train of thought that is beginning to make a lot of sense. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the more that they string us along and make us think that the fight is on the ropes, makes us want it that much more. It’s that entire idea that you want what you can’t have.

There have been whispers of a plan to increase the gate and insure the biggest gate in the history of boxing by manipulating the media and fans with false headlines and an off again/on again message.

Mayweather holding the Cards

Despite reported money problems, family issues, and more, Floyd Mayweather, JR., is still the big draw, and he knows it. Even though Pacquiao’s style is more appealing to most and most certainly more exciting, Floyd has gone mainstream through his smart business. He has painted himself the villain and has gained fans from different areas, ranging from the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) to the fans of Dancing with the Stars. Compile that with his boisterous ways and flashy style, he has become the new Muhammad Ali. People want to see him lose.

Pacquiao needs this fight. He has beaten a string of impressive foes, but Floyd is the prize. Mayweather, JR., has not only won, but he has won most of the rounds of his career. Pacquiao’s string of wins, his continued improvement, and exciting style have made him the challenge that people want to see imposed on Floyd, but even the most diehard fans of Pacquiao realize the problem he will face and that he will be the underdog going in.

The fans screaming “shut him up” are now directed at Pacquiao in hopes that somebody will finally beat Mayweather. People like Pacquiao but want Mayweather to actually be challenged for once and the only one that can apparently do it is Manny.

Bombshell

The word now is that there will be an announcement shortly from Floyd Mayweather, JR., in regards to this fight and his plans. The word is that everything has been agreed to and that Floyd is currently entertaining other trainers for this fight should Roger be kept on ice. This fight will happen and things are in the process of being ironed out. Expect Floyd to make a statement soon.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Bob Arum is doing what he does best, talking . . . but is anyone listening? -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

One of the funnier moments of the year in sports occurred last week. Presiding was that master of high comedy, Bob Arum.

His day job is that of boxing promoter, but he may be missing his true calling. Jay Leno, beware.

Arum scheduled a conference call for the media at midnight PDT Friday. It was the old news-at-midnight drama.

He said this was the end of a so-called "exclusivity period" in which he had refrained from negotiating with any other fighter on behalf of his client Manny Pacquiao, so that an HBO representative could work with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was given first shot to fight Pacquiao on the date of Nov. 13.

Then Arum went on to sound like a diplomat at a United Nations committee meeting, dealing delicately with complicated issues and choosing words carefully to make sure nobody's feelings got hurt. Henry Kissinger would be proud.

The thing is, there are no complicated issues and this is boxing, where hurting the other side's feelings is standard procedure. But instead of calling the other guys lowlifes and creeps — the usual way to incite a similar response and justify high ticket prices — Arum became Mother Teresa.

Keep in mind that Arum is fond of Mayweather's business manager, Al Haymon — not to mention Mayweather himself — like a cobra is fond of a mongoose. Also keep in mind the old story about Arum, who, when challenged by a reporter over an inconsistency in information, said, "Yesterday, I was lying. Today, I'm telling the truth."

Arum's leverage for making Mayweather hurry up and agree to a fight is that, if he doesn't, Arum will have Pacquiao fight either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.

How silly.

Pacquiao destroyed Cotto once and there is little public push for Pacquiao-Cotto II. And Margarito doesn't even have a license to fight in the United States. He was suspended after that night at Staples Center a year and a half ago, when they peeled off his gloves before he fought Shane Mosley and found residue of plaster of Paris. Plus, Margarito's fight in Mexico in May was spectacularly unimpressive.

Maybe they could do a doubleheader, six rounds each: Manny Fights the Retreads.

You can just imagine Mayweather's camp, sitting around in full sweat, knowing of the availability of Cotto and Margarito. Remember, Arum promotes both fighters, so either deal would take minutes. Would Cotto or Margarito even twitch before accepting a chance to fight Pacquiao, whose stature brings with it another chance for whatever opponent to bank a few million more?

Of course not.

Yet Arum played this as if he were George Mitchell in the Middle East. Words were chosen carefully. Praise and understanding for the other side, and its dilemma, were forthcoming. It was masterfully done, a true belly laugh.

Some Arum samples:

—"I don't blame Al Haymon. . . . He really tried."

—"I don't think any of you should be too harsh on Floyd."

But intermingled with the warm and fuzzy stuff were the real gems. Arum is paraphrased here:

—The reason we should not be so harsh on Mayweather is that his trainer and uncle, Roger Mayweather, faces an August trial (he is accused of battery and strangulation of a female boxer), and Floyd might not want to fight without his uncle in his corner.

—The reason scheduling is so important is that Arum's fighter, Pacquiao, is an elected congressman in the Philippines, busy performing his civic duties.

The not-so-subtle juxtaposition is inescapable. Arum's fighter is a lawmaker. The other guy's trainer may be a lawbreaker. The good corner and the bad corner for this fight are clearly defined — they were a long time ago — and Arum merely reiterated it for that portion of the public that hadn't been paying attention.

Not clear is whether Arum really wants this fight, or knows there is no chance it will ever happen and has decided to get mileage out of it, anyway. He has, as he is the best at doing, worked himself and his Top Rank Promotions into a win-win situation in the public's eye.

If the Mayweather camp succumbs to this most recent tongue-in-cheek gesture, either out of fury or the inevitability that Pacquiao is its only remaining huge payday, then Arum has his biggest promotion ever. If it doesn't, the public will have heard Arum try his best to be nice to these people who ended up costing boxing its biggest moment because part of their team is accused of felonies.

As a bonus, he gets to string along the public with thoughts of maybe next year, which usually pumps up ticket sales and pay-per-view prospects.

Truly masterful.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: latimes.com

Mayweather adviser: No talks took place -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Leonard Ellerbe, one of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s closest advisers, denied Monday that negotiations for a super fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao had ever taken place.

That is contrary to what Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, has been saying for the past three weeks, and he's sticking by his story.

Arum said June 30 that he had concluded talks and was waiting for a decision from the Mayweather camp on whether he wanted to fight this year. Then, Arum gave Mayweather until 3 a.m. ET Saturday to accept the terms of an agreement, or he would move on and look to make a deal for Pacquiao to either fight Antonio Margarito or have a rematch with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 13.

There was even a clock on Top Rank's website counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the deadline, a deadline Arum said was the window in which he would exclusively negotiate the Mayweather fight.

Arum set a teleconference with boxing reporters at the deadline's expiration. On the teleconference, Arum said he had worked out the agreement with Al Haymon, Mayweather's top adviser, using Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, as a go-between without ever speaking directly to Haymon.

Now, Ellerbe denies any of that ever happened.

"Here are the facts," Ellerbe said in Monday's statement. "Al Haymon, [Golden Boy Promotions CEO] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying."

Ellerbe was clearly taking a shot at Arum, who is famous for playing fast and loose with the truth after having uttered the famous quote years ago, "Yesterday I was lying; today I am telling the truth."

When asked for his response to Ellerbe's surprising statement, Greenburg said in an e-mail to ESPN.com, "As always we have no comment."

Arum sounded utterly perplexed when reached for comment about the statement.

"This is like absurd unreality," Arum said when reached at his Los Angeles vacation home. "I'm not going to be party to this [expletive]. When I heard about [the statement] I thought it was a joke. Ross said he was talking to Haymon. He certainly wasn't making it up. And Haymon was relaying conversations to Ross allegedly that Floyd had with him. At least that is what Ross says."

Throughout May and June, when the negotiations were supposedly taking place, Arum refused to speak about them. He would cite a "gag order," which he said everyone involved had agreed to. Schaefer did the same thing and would sometimes say "no comment" when called before even being asked a question because the "gag order" had become such a joke in boxing circles.

Oscar De La Hoya, the founder and president of Golden Boy Promotions, acknowledged negotiations during an early June appearance on a talk show on Spanish-language network Univision. During his appearance, in which he spoke Spanish, De La Hoya said the deal for the fight was very close.

When the camps negotiated the bout in December and January in anticipation of it happening in March, both sides spoke freely to the media, and their comments, they said, contributed to the fight blowing up over an inability to finalize the drug testing protocol.

This time, both sides said, they would keep things private.

"If there is no negotiation, who imposed the gag order," Arum said. "Why they're doing this is absurd. What is motivating them to put something like this out? I'm not going to speculate, but what are they doing? Schaefer said there was a gag order. Who could there be a gag order from if there were no negotiations? From the sky?

"What they said was absurd, but why did they say this? They could say a lot of other things. My feeling is that this is rapidly becoming one of the most bizarre things ever."

On Sunday, Mayweather, who was in Miami as a coach at a charity basketball game hosted by Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, told The Associated Press regarding the Pacquiao fight, "I'm not interested in rushing to do anything. I'm not really thinking about boxing right now. I'm just relaxing. I fought about 60 days ago, so I'm just enjoying myself, enjoying life, enjoying my family and enjoying my vacation."

With Mayweather, who beat Shane Mosley on May 1, clearly not interested in fighting again this year, Arum said he will try to close a fight with Margarito or Cotto in the next 10 days or so.

But there remains a hearty appetite from the public for Pacquiao-Mayweather, a fight between the sport's two best fighters. It's a fight that many believe will shatter all boxing revenue records.

Top Rank streamed Saturday morning's teleconference live on its website, and spokesman Lee Samuels said more than 30,000 tuned in despite the timing. He added that Top Rank's website spiked to 50,000 hits on Saturday. Both, he said, are records for the site.

So Ellerbe's denial of the talks and Arum's insistence that they took place add another chapter to the saga of the biggest fight in the sport, one that seems a long way from taking place.

"The kid [Mayweather] said he doesn't want to fight. OK, good," Arum said. "But this makes everybody look crazy."

Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Team Mayweather breaks its silence -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

The public silence has broken in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp, following a midnight Friday announcement by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, that other opponents would be sought instead of waiting to hear from Mayweather.

Arum said he had dealt with HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg as a mediator in talks to stage a Nov. 13 super-fight that would be expected to become the most lucrative event in the sport's history. However, Arum said Greenburg stopped receiving communication from Team Mayweather.

Monday, Mayweather's lead advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, released this statement under the headline, "Someone's Lying":

"Here are the facts: Al Haymon [Mayweather's manager], [Mayweather advisor] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13. Either Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying."

There was no other information released about what Mayweather plans to do next, or if he'll attempt to make a deal to fight Pacquiao before the Filipino superstar opts to fight either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, both of whom are also promoted by Arum.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Floyd Mayweather’s camp says it never agreed to details of Manny Pacquiao fight -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

Floyd Mayweather's camp issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding recent comments made by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum.

At 11:59 p.m. on July 16, Arum held a conference call to inform media members that although both sides of the potential megafight had basically agreed on all points of a contract to meet Nov. 13, Mayweather's hesitancy to sign off on the deal had forced Top Rank to seek a new opponent for Pacquiao.

In a statement released Monday, Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe said that a deal between the two sides never was made as Arum had suggested.

"Here are the facts," the statement said. "(Mayweather's manager) Al Haymon, (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schafer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13."

It was the first statement made by anyone on Mayweather's side since negotiations reportedly began following Mayweather's latest win over Shane Mosley on May 1. If it happens, the Pacquiao fight is expected to be the richest in boxing history with each fighter making as much as $60 million.

Both sides were put under a gag order by HBO during negotiations, a request that ended when Arum leaked to certain news sites that the deal was close in late June.

In his July 16 conference call, Arum admitted he hadn't been in direct contact with Mayweather's camp and that all negotiations were being relayed through HBO president Ross Greenburg.

Ellerbe's statement verified as much, saying that either Greenburg or Arum was lying about the negotiations. Not surprisingly, Ellerbe hinted that Arum, who once promoted Mayweather before the two had a falling out, was the culprit

"Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth," Ellerbe said. "But history tells us who is lying."

Pacquiao is expected to now face either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13. According to Arum, a deal with either of those two could be made as quickly as next week.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Question of the day: Will there ever be a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? [Updated] -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

This is an unknown for now, requiring the ability to read a mind. The mind needing to be read is Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s, a skill that borders on impossible, even for those close to the unbeaten boxer.

For now, we’ve been told Mayweather is in vacation mode, enjoying the lifestyle he earned by pummeling Shane Mosley on May 1 and earning $25 million, which we hear he is happily spending.

Mayweather clearly wasn’t compelled to act by the Friday midnight deadline set by Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, to express interest in the proposed mega-fight, and now Arum is moving his Filipino star toward an alternate fight Nov. 13 against Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.

Of course, the money that Mayweather and Pacquiao will generate by fighting each other will one day prove too impossible to reject. Mayweather’s spending habits will force him to recognize this, Pacquiao’s fear of a blood test will mysteriously vanish, and the super-fight will have more than a year of crazed fan anxiety to maximize pay-per-view dollars and ensure a live-gate sellout no matter how much tickets cost.

Check back early next year, with a fight date in place by the end of May 2011.

George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel

Floyd Mayweather’s la-di-da attitude about facing Manny Pacquiao in the mother of all super-fights is the reason pro boxing is getting it’s butt kicked by MMA. The sport is on a suicidal run, all of the major players apparently not interested in saving themselves.

But even the drunk eventually wake up sober. The fight is going to happen.

It will happen because the pile of money the fighters could have split is staggering. Each guy stands to make between $25 million to $40 million.

Somebody twists little Floyd’s arm to make him understand the consequences of his actions. Free choice, you ask? I suppose it’s OK to turn down $40 million. But in the macho-man sport world of pro boxing, maybe Little Floyd has some other concerns.

Like having Pac Man slap his arrogant face around, knocking off the invincibility of the man who professes to be the toughest pound-for-pound hombre on the planet.

Take off your diapers and come out and play, Floyd.

[Updated at 1:50 p.m.:

Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant

The Fight of the Year will apparently not happen in 2010.

With Bob Arum’s deadline passing and Floyd Mayweather Jr. more interested in hobnobbing with his celebrity friends than training for a Manny Pacquiao fight, the Nov. 13 mega-bout is off. It’s just what a sport careening toward irrelevance needs: The bout fans want is on hold because overpaid egos can’t iron out details.

So the calendar will turn without the Super Fight. We’ll hear lots more bickering from both camps as deadlines pass and demands rise.

And, eventually, we’ll see Pac Man and Mayweather touch gloves. Someone will finally get through to Mayweather and persuade him to leave the hot tub and start training for a bout that will define his career.

Or someone will convince him that he can’t pass on a $30-million to $40-million pay day. We know this about big-time sports – ultimately, money talks louder than words. With so much cash at stake, Mayweather and Pacquiao will inevitably meet.

Maybe it’ll be the Fight of 2011. Be patient, fight fans.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Amir Khan, Devon Alexander Answer Tim Bradley -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

During his post-fight interview following Saturday night's 12-round, unanimous victory decision over previously unbeaten welterweight (147 pounds), Luis Carlos Abregu, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Tim Bradley (pictured above, at left), stared into the HBO television cameras and called out several potential opponents.

"I'm making the challenge right now," said Bradley, who rose to 26-0 with 11 knockouts at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. "Manny Pacquiao, come break down this wall, baby. Manny, come break down this wall."

The 26-year-old Bradley is considered the premiere fighter in a deep and talented 140-pound weight class that includes Missouri's 23-year-old southpaw WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), England's 23-year-old WBA king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, Argentina's 26-year-old WBA interim champ Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs).

And he left few of them out.

"Anybody. Any of the top guys out there. Especially you, Devon Alexander," said Bradley, who dropped the hard-hitting Abregu of Salta, Salta,

Argentina to 29-1 with 23 KOs. "If everything is alright, and the money's right, everything is lined up, I'll fight you next. You, Devon, Maidana, and Khan. I'll fight all of them. I'm a throwback fighter, baby, I'll fight all of them."

On Sunday, Alexander answered his challenge. And on Monday, Khan did the same.

"The time has come. You have pretended to be the best at 140 while everyone knows, Alexander is the true king of the division," Team Alexander wrote in a statement. "The difference between Alexander and Bradley is, Bradley wants to beg for an opportunity with the great fighters; Devon wants to beat the best fighters in his division and earn the right to fight the great fighters."

Bradley is hoping for an HBO-televised Jan. 29 bout opposite Alexander, which would take place the day before the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl. But Alexander has an HBO-televised Aug. 7, second defense of his WBC title -- and the first of his IBF crown -- against former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs) before his hometown fans in St. Louis, Mo.

Alexander intends to defeat Kotelnik

"Boxing fans want to see the best fight the best, and the two fights they want most are Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, and Devon Alexander vs. Tim Bradley," Team Alexander's statement read.

"HBO wants to make the fight, so Team Bradley, stop making cowardly moves stand up and fight," read the statement. "Your own fans are tired of your excuses.On Aug. 7, Devon will put on an explosive performance against Kotelnik, and then, Bradley will have nowhere to hide."

Coming off of a May 15, 11th-round knockout of Paulie Malignaggi (27-5, five KOs), Khan also publicly demanded a shot at Bradley -- "Next."

Khan issued a statement on his Twitter page challenging Bradley perhaps in the fall, and said that he would speak to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, about the prospect of doing so. Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaefer, has told FanHouse that HBO has reserved the date of Dec. 11 for Khan's potential return.

"I'll fight Tim Bradley. It's the first time he's called me out. I'm going to Vegas and I'll talk to Golden Boy. I would love the fight," said Khan, who could fight in England or the United States in the fall. "Good style for me. I'm fighting Timothy Bradley next. I'm gonna tell Golden Boy. Let's see if they want it for real. Talk is cheap."

Khan will be at ringside for a July 31 bout between WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 knockouts) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) in a rematch of their February, 2009, Fight of The Year won by Marquez via ninth-round knockout. Khan is a consideration for Marquez if Marquez wins.

Bradley's promoter,Gary Shaw, likes both the Khan and the Alexander fights, but would also throw in Maidana, and, contender, Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif.

"Personally, I would rather fight Khan (pictured at right) first, and here is my reasoning. Khan has a loss, Maidana has a loss, Ortiz has a loss. And two of the three are from outside of the United States. Devon Alexander is an American fighter with an unblemished record. Tim Bradley is an American fighter with an unblemished record. So, I say, let Timmy fight Khan or Maidana, and let Devon Alexander fight Khan or Maidana, and then let the two winners meet, which was my idea all along," said Shaw.

"I was called by a radio station about Khan's Twitter message, and I immediately e-mailed Richard Schaefer and said, this is what you're fighter is saying," said Shaw. "I sent an e-mail not only to Richard, but to [HBO's president of sports] Ross Greenburg as well. I got back an e-mail from Richard saying, 'I will talk to Amir.'"

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com