Amir Khan far too risky for Floyd Mayweather, says Johnny Nelson

Khan has built his profile in America while pursuing big names such as Mayweather and Pacquiao, leaving a domestic battle against Kell Brook on the backburner. The Sheffield man defended his IBF welterweight title with a sixth-round stoppage win over Frankie Gavin on Saturday and has grown disillusioned at Khan’s refusal to face him. Mayweather remains the ultimate target for anyone in the 147lb division, including Brook, and Nelson feels he could be a more likely foe for the pound-for-pound king.

He said: “I was with Kell yesterday and he said he is no longer going to continue shouting about Amir Khan, because he’s champion. Why should I chase him? “I think the chances of Brook getting Mayweather are stronger than Amir Khan. The reason is because from Mayweather’s point of view, he will think that Brook is more static, more hittable. “He’s not got as much movement, he’s more there in your face. “Khan is too much on his toes, too fast, too young. This man is not an idiot, he’ll choose someone that suits him.”

Johnny Nelson believes Amir Khan is simply ‘too good’ to be considered as a possible opponent for Floyd Mayweather. The British fighter battled to a points win over Chris Algieri on Friday night and claims he is closer than ever to landing a lucrative clash against Mayweather. There has been progress in recent negotiations, according to Khan, and he suggested that an announcement could even be made in two weeks. But Sky Sports expert Nelson fears that Mayweather will again overlook the Bolton man in favour of a less risky assignment as he approaches the end of his career. “I would be very, very surprised if he ever gets to box Floyd Mayweather,” Nelson told Sky Sports News HQ. “Amir Khan - in this situation - is too good for his own good. He will give Mayweather nightmares and Mayweather will just turn a blind eye and say 'we actually don’t need this guy'. “So Amir Khan will get all the fighters that nobody wants to fight, the fighters in the ‘who needs them’ club. “We saw him box Chris Algieri and he perfomed on par, but he needs the kind of fights that will make him box to the best of his ability, because if that doesn’t happen then that is when you see him slip up. He’ll either lose or struggle to get the win.”