AMIR KHAN admits he was ‘too brave for his own good’ by fighting Canelo Alvarez after failed talks with ‘p***y’ Floyd Mayweather.
Khan accepted a deal with Canelo’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya to jump two divisions and challenge for the WBC middleweight belt back in 2016.
Khan, who was knocked out by Canelo, had chased a super-fight with Mayweather – the pound-for-pound best at the time – for two years prior to no avail.
In reflection, the 34-year-old told iNews: “When Oscar called me I couldn’t say no. Maybe I’m too brave for my own good.
“Mayweather was being a p***y and wouldn’t fight me so I said cool, let’s do it.
“It was a mismatch on paper. To be leading in the fight was amazing really. I earned his respect.
“Yes I got knocked out but he is one of the best Mexican fighters of all time. I weighed in on the night at 158 pounds, he was 187.
“It was crazy. At the weigh-in he didn’t seem that big but when I saw him in the corner I was thinking what am I doing here?
“He had his back to me. It was huge.”
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The Olympic silver medalist was overlooked by Mayweather who instead fought Marcos Maidana, the man Khan beat in 2014.
Khan featured on the undercard in Maidana’s first loss to the boxing legend.
But he never got a deal over the line with Mayweather or the American’s long-time rival Manny Pacquiao, 43.
If Khan felt avoided by Mayweather, Kell Brook could perhaps feel the same way about the Bolton hero.
Before Khan’s losses to superstars Canelo, 31, and Terence Crawford, 34, it twice meant talks with Brook, 35, broke down.
But this February the arch enemies are finally set to fight, headlining at the Manchester Arena, bringing an end to years of feuding.
Khan said: “I don’t hate Kell. I have never really hated anyone. This is sport. There is nothing personal on my side.
“I think his feelings toward me are down to jealousy. He was overlooked because I was a better fighter in the amateurs.
“At [Brook’s Sheffield gym] Wincobank they trained like professionals. But as an amateur you have to throw more punches.
“Maybe that is why he never made it to the international squads. It is a tough business.”
