Schaefer: Khan to fight Morales-Matthysse winner, then possibly a well known former welterweight champion [Mosley?] in early 2012

By Boxing News - 08/15/2011 - Comments

Image: Schaefer: Khan to fight Morales-Matthysse winner, then possibly a well known former welterweight champion [Mosley?] in early 2012By William Mackay: Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer made it clear at a London press conference that his fighter WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO’s) is going after the winner of the September 17th fight between Erik Morales and Lucas Matthysse for a bout would be taking place in December. Following that fight, Khan will be fighting in early 2012 against a possible ex-world champion from the welterweight division (read: 39-year-old Shane Mosley), followed by a December fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Here’s what Schaefer had to say: “The card on September 17th [between Matthysse and Morales] has tremendous implications for fight fans in the UK. Two of Amir’s next three opponents are fighting on this card. I’m taking about either Mayweather or Ortiz, and also Morales or Lucas Matthysse. The idea is for Amir to be fighting again in December in the United States against either the winner of Morales-Matthysse or the winner out of [Marcos] Maidana and Robert Guerrero. After taking on those guys, Khan will then look at moving up to the welterweight division and fight a well known opponent, maybe a former world champion, as his welterweight debut here in the UK. We are looking at the possibility of having Khan vs. Mayweather next December, which will be one of the biggest fights in recent history in the UK.”

Let’s be clear on this: Khan won’t be fighting the winner of the Guerrero-Maidana fight. Schaefer mentioned the possibility of Khan fighting the winner of that bout, but if you noticed, he mentioned only after he said Khan would be fighting the Morales-Matthysse winner. In other words, the Guerrero vs. Maidana winner would be the backup plan if something goes wrong, such as Timothy Bradley stepping up and demanding that he be the one that takes on the winner of the Morales-Matthysse fight. Given that he’s the World Boxing Council Emeritus champion, it’s certainly within his rights to do so, and he would likely be given the fight by the WBC.

However, Bradley has been silent recently about this and doesn’t appear that he wants this fight. But if he does, then Khan and Schaefer will be put in the very uncomfortable situation where they’ll have to decide whether it’s worth it or not to take on the Maidana-Guerrero winner. My guess is they’ll decline to fight that winner, and will instead look for another option at light welterweight, possibly a softer target like Michael Katsidis. Being this close to getting a cash out fight for Khan against the golden goose Floyd Mayweather Jr, Schaefer and Khan won’t want to risk a fight against someone that could beat him like Maidana or Guerrero. Khan beats Matthysse – maybe – and Morales, but Maidana and Guerrero are a completely different situation.

In the fight that Schaefer says will be against a former ex-welterweight champion early next year, that’s probably going to be against a fading 39-year-old Shane Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KO’s). This would be a fight that will take place in the UK, and Khan would draw huge crowds if they can sign Mosley up for the fight. It’s another safe fight for Khan, because Mosley appears to be completely shot given his poor performances in his last three fights against Mayweather, Sergio Mora and Manny Pacquiao. Mosley hasn’t won a fight in two years since beating Antonio Margarito in 2009. He’s likely shot enough for Khan to win. However, there’s still danger in a Mosley fight because he’s like an old landmine that could go off at any time if handled incorrectly.



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