Roach wants Khan to face Mayweather

Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach declared the British boxer will be good enough to beat Floyd Mayweather after he grew "from a boy to a man" during Saturday night's world title defence.

Khan had to come through some heavy punishment in the late rounds to beat Marcos Maidana on a unanimous points decision to retain the WBA light-welterweight title defence in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan after a fight in which he answered critics who had questioned his chin.

Roach does not believe Khan would fight Manny Pacquiao given he trains both men - but he tipped a future showdown with Mayweather, and told Sportsweek on Radio Five Live: "Business is business and you never know but I hope Mayweather comes to the table first. I have two guys I believe who can beat him."

Roach wants Khan to face WBO light-welterweight champion Tim Bradley or Devon Alexander, who fight next month, before moving up a weight to face Mayweather.

"We need another fight at 140 pounds to make sure he looks good and stop making the mistakes he made," said Roach.

"It could happen. If he cleans up the 140 pound division and goes to 147, Mayweather won't fight Pacquiao but maybe he will fight Amir Khan.

"It would be a fight I would welcome."

Khan floored Maidana in the first round with a powerful body punch but he was fortunate to survive the 10th round after the Argentinian unleashed a flurry of concussive punches.

But Khan would not be beaten and he negotiated the final three rounds to close out a 114-111, 114-111, 113-112 unanimous decision.