Khan deflects talk of Mayweather blockbuster

AMIR KHAN admits he cannot afford to let thoughts of a potential mega fight with Floyd Mayweather distract him ahead of his upcoming contest against Lamont Peterson.

Khan announced yesterday he will defend his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles against American Peterson at the Washington Convention Center on December 10.

While Peterson is considered a reasonably established boxer after losing just once in 31 fights, the bout is not exactly on a par with the potential mega-fight against the unbeaten Mayweather.

Khan admits Mayweather is his number one target, with next summer being pencilled in as the date that the two could meet.

But the 24-year-old is also keen not to let the thought of a possible multi-million pound blockbuster with Mayweather distract him from his last fight at light-welterweight.

Khan fell victim to the hype that surrounded him earlier in his career with talk of domestic match-ups with Kevin Mitchell and John Murray distracting him to the point where he lost his focus and was knocked out by Breidis Prescott in 54 seconds.

The Prescott loss is the only defeat of Khan’s career and he is keen for it to stay that way.