Boxer Amir Khan says he will fight Devon Alexander in Dubai or America

Amir Khan's proposed fight against IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander in Dubai appears to have stalled with the American yet to sign up to fight the Briton. Paul Eliis / AFP

Amir Khan has urged IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander to sign up to a world title fight, with the Briton saying he will fight the champion in Dubai or in the US.

Khan has his sights set on winning a world title at a second weight by stepping up to 147lbs against the American southpaw before the end of the year, with the 2004 Olympic silver medallist telling The National in an exclusive interview last month that Dubai was the front runner to stage the fight later this year.

"We are looking at December 7 for my next fight and looking at opponents," Khan told Press Association Sport.

"I have tried to get Devon Alexander. It was looking promising. He said he wanted to fight at the start and now it slowly seems that he is not 100 per cent sure about it, coming up with excuses.

"Even if it's not in Dubai, I will fight him in America, I will fight him wherever."

Khan's ultimate goal is to become the first man to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr and feels the Alexander bout would set up a glamour fight against the unbeaten American.

He is also prepared to devote more time to his training regime in San Francisco with Virgil Hunter, who took over from Freddie Roach after Khan lost his last world title fight against Danny Garcia in July 2012.

"It's all about moving to that big fight against Mayweather," said Khan, who yesterday visited children's hospitals in Edinburgh and Glasgow to hand out presents to patients on behalf of charity Colours of Islam.

"Hopefully getting this win against Alexander will get me into that fight.

"We are going back and forth to America and doing mini camps but I'm trying to spend more time there.

"This time I'll be there for 15 weeks rather than rushing into training straight away for eight weeks. I can build into it."

Khan added: "Being at 147, I won't be killing myself making the weight and I'll be much happier going into the fight. It's the right time, I have been killing myself to make the weight too long.

"It's good to step up a weight and feel more comfortable, plus there are new challenges out there."

Meanwhile, Khan revealed his split with business manager Asif Vali, which was announced this week, was a natural progression following an eight-year partnership.

"We finished on good terms," the Bolton fighter said. "It's all about moving forward and trying new things.

"I wish him all the best and that's what he said to me. We don't live too far away from each other and we'll always stay in touch."

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