Khan, Alexander weigh in for ‘Royal Battle’

LAS VEGAS — Amir Khan and Devon Alexander have both made weight. Now all that’s left is for them to let their fists do the talking.

Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) and Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) both weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs. at Friday’s live weigh-in from the MGM Grand Garden Arena – the site of their much anticipated “Royal Battle.”

The two former unified 140 lb. world champions square off this Saturday night in a 12-round welterweight main event on Showtime Championship Boxing.

The winner will likely establish himself as the frontrunner to challenge pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year.

Khan – a native of Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom – took the time to thank his fans after stepping off the scale and said they were in store for a great fight:

“We’ve got speed, power, explosiveness. We’ve got movement in there. It’s going to be one not to be missed.”

Khan and Alexander were originally scheduled to fight last December when Alexander held the IBF welterweight championship.

However, Khan withdrew from the fight because he believed he had a guaranteed shot at Mayweather – but Mayweather ultimately elected to fight Marcos Maidana.

Khan benefited from the extra training he got in by withdrawing as he made an impressive welterweight debut by dominating former welterweight title holder Luis Collazo on the Mayweather-Maidana undercard this past May.

Alexander, meanwhile, lost his IBF world title to Shawn Porter in December, but rebounded with a victory over Mexican veteran Jesus Soto Karass this past June.

Khan is hungry to fight Mayweather, but is also not looking past Alexander and remains confident he will earn an emphatic victory:

“I’m going to beat Devon in good fashion, good style and just see what comes after the win. I’m not going to be chasing. I’m just going to keep nice and calm and if the Floyd fight happens, it happens … There’s a lot of talk about it happening. But my whole focus is on this one fight against Devon.”

Alexander is also confident he will emerge victorious and believes he has a mental edge over Khan:

“If he was supposed to fight Floyd, he didn’t want to fight me because he thought he was going to get beat – that’s why he pulled out. So, I’m ready. This is the perfect time – I’m ready.”

The St. Louis native is also dedicating the fight to the city of Ferguson in the wake of the unrest following the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown:

“I need to go to work. I need to win this for Ferguson and St. Louis because they’re expecting me to win. They win, too, if I win.”

In the co-main event, WBA interim welterweight champion – and feared knockout artist – Keith “One Time” Thurman will also look to throw his name in the Mayweather sweepstakes when he faces undefeated Leonard Bundu of Italy.

Thurman weighed in at 146 lbs. while Bundu – who makes his debut on American soil this Saturday – weighed in just half a pound heavier.

Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs and 1 ND) said he’s looking forward to facing fellow unbeaten Bundu – but believes the fight won’t go the distance:

“We’ve had a hard training camp. You know my motto, ‘KO for life,’ baby! It ain’t going the whole 12 rounds.”

Though he’s aware of Mayweather’s elite caliber, Thurman didn’t hesitate in calling out the P4P king and delivered a bold, emphatic statement:

“I’m looking forward to destroying Mr. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. This is my personal motto – it’s called ‘Burn Money.’ 2015 we’re getting ready to ‘Burn Money!’”