Recently ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said on his “First Take” program on ESPN that he felt that if WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr opted to face Amir Khan but not World Boxing Organization 147lb champion Manny Pacquiao in one of his last two remaining fights that he would come on ESPN and say Mayweather is avoiding a fight against Pacquiao.
Smith had no problems with Mayweather finishing his career with fights against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, because he felt those two fighters were worthy for Mayweather to fight instead of Pacquiao. But Smith doesn’t believe Khan is worthy of a fight against Mayweather, as he points out that Khan was destroyed by Danny Garcia in four rounds just two years ago in 2012, and that Khan doesn’t have the same box office appeal as Mayweather does.
Smith didn’t point out the obvious about Khan not drawing as well as Cotto and Canelo in the United States, although Khan does bring in good ratings in the UK.
“I understand he [Smith] may want to see that fight,” Khan said to Fighthype.com. There’s no need to put me down. Look, Floyd is not the biggest puncher, so I know he’s not going to hurt me, but can he out-box me? I’m younger, I’m faster and I box better than Manny Pacquiao. I’ve got youth behind me.”
I don’t think Smith even cares about whether Khan has a chance. He sees him as not being worthy of a Mayweather fight based on his box office appeal and due to his previous knockout loss to Danny Garcia, which Khan hasn’t avenged.
Here’s what Stephen A. said about Khan on his “First Take” program on ESPN in part:
“There’s no excuse on God’s green earth for Amir Khan to step inside the ring with those three fights out there. Amir Khan is a good fighter, but he’s not in the same class as Floyd Mayweather in terms of box office. The fights out there are Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto, who is now being trained by Freddie Roach. If Floyd Mayweather avoids this fight and fights Miguel Cotto or Canelo Alvarez, I have no problems, but if he avoids the fight and he takes on Amir Khan, I will come on national television and I will acknowledge to you that Floyd Mayweather is avoiding Manny Pacquiao.”
