Amir Khan Hopes Fight With Devon Alexander Will Secure 2015 Bout With Floyd Mayweather Jr

Amir Khan will be out to prove himself to Floyd Mayweather Jr when facing Devon Alexander on 13 December, according to Golden Boy founder Oscar De La Hoya.

The Mexican says a meeting is close to being confirmed but the contest will likely propel the winner into a fight against Mayweather in 2015.

Khan has constantly chased a fight with the unbeaten American, spurning the chance to face Alexander last year in order to enhance his bid to secure the career-defining bout.

"There are just little details that we are finishing but Khan and Alexander are going to fight," De La Hoya told ESPN.

"Amir Khan looked good against my boy [Luis] Collazo [in May], but I have a feeling he wants to make a statement against Alexander, and Alexander is coming off a good win in a good action fight with Soto Karass.

"What's happening here is they realise they have to prove themselves if they want to get a really big fight, like against Mayweather."

At 27, Khan had seemingly abandoned plans to face Mayweather, who says he will retire next year after fulfilling the final two fights on his Showtime television contract.

The Briton is likely to be sceptical regarding a future meeting with Mayweather, should he beat Alexander in December, having been continually overlooked as a potential opponent for the 47-0 fighter.

But Alexander says the carrot of Mayweather will work as motivation for Khan but still expects to prevail in Las Vegas.

"It looks like it will happen, and I'm excited about it," said Alexander. "Should be a big win for me. He tried to just wait to get the Mayweather fight and he didn't get it, and now he has to fight me. So it is inevitable we get in the ring and see who's best and who is catapulted to the next level.

"He's a good fighter. He has some speed. I can hit and not get hit, and I'm faster. He stands there. He's a good, solid fighter, but he don't do anything special. He hits and jumps back.

That's how he lost; he got timed jumping in and got caught. People know me as a good counter puncher, and I'm fast so of course I will be able to catch him and catch him good, and my boxing will be there, too. So I think I have the ability to outshine him in this one.

"I'm one of the best at welterweight and that I am still the future of the welterweight division and I am still here, and I'm not going anywhere."