BoxNation signs deal with Golden Boy; Mayweather-Khan possible in 2013

BoxNation, television's home of boxing in the United Kingdom, has signed a long-term output deal with Golden Boy Promotions that will begin with the junior featherweight bout featuring Abner Mares against Eric Morel for the WBC's vacant title.

In addition to the bout between Mares and Morel, the April 21 show will broadcast WBA bantamweight titleholder Anselmo Moreno defending against David Lamora.

A week later, the network will show the rematch between RING champion and WBC light heavyweight belhtolder Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson on April 28.

The deal will allow UK boxing fans to see Golden Boy Promotions' fights televised on BoxNation, Channel 456 on Sky and 546 on Virgin.

There will be two live shows per month which will include one major HBO or Showtime event and one other televised event from another Golden Boy series.

The deal will also include WBC welterweight titlewinner Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s rise to challenge WBA junior middleweight beltwinner Miguel Cotto in pursuit of his eighth crown over five weight divisions on May 5 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Mayweather-Cotto undercard features WBC junior middleweight beltholder Saul Alvarez defending against ex-titleholder Shane Mosley.

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with BoxNation and bring British fight fans at least two Golden Boy events every month," said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

SCHAEFER LIKES MAYWEATHER-AMIR KHAN FOR 2013.

Schaefer told Gareth Davies of The Telegraph that he favors a clash between Mayweather and ex-beltholder Amir Khan, who must first get beyond a May 19 rematch with Lamont Peterson, the man who dethroned Khan as IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder by split-decision victory in December.

"It is still a dangerous fight for Amir, who insisted on and fought for the rematch. He has the chance to prove that he has the skills to outbox the guy who took the IBF and WBA light-welterweight belts," said Schaefer, referring to Peterson-Khan II.

But during Wednesday's announcement of the BoxNation deal in England, Schaefer said Khan must temper his "warrior spirit" and become "more clinical" to challenge Mayweather.

"I don't know how to say it more elegantly, but sometimes Amir's balls are too big for his own good. Look at Mayweather. He's a master tactician who knows how to use defensive and offensive skills and has been knocking people out recently. He knows what it takes to win and fights very smart."

In victory over Peterson, Mayweather-Khan becomes "a much bigger fight, with great things at stake."

"There's never going to be a boring Amir Khan fight because he is incapable of producing that. He's an exciting guy to watch and that's why we all want to see him," Schaefer said.

"We would like him to have one fight at welterweight if he beats Peterson, and then there is the match with Mayweather. We have discussed it with the Mayweather camp, and they are interested."

WHAT OF MAYWEATHER-MANNY PACQUIAO?

Although negotiations have thus far failed between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Schaefer told The Telegraph that he still believes that the megabout will happen.

"It will happen but not this year," said Schaefer. "Probably when Pacquiao is ready to retire and has run out of other options."

Photo by Tom Casino-Showtime.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com