ESPN assesses the chances of those vying for position to be Floyd Mayweather Jr's opponent in September, in what could be the pound-for-pound king's last fight after Saturday's points win over Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Amir Khan 6/10
Khan must first clear two obstacles if he is to be in the running to face Mayweather in September: first, beat Chris Algieri on May 29 and then not adhere to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (from June 18). By observing Ramadan, Khan would rule himself out of fighting in September because he could not train properly due to the fasting during daylight hours. However, special exceptions can be made and Khan has fought before in September (although he was knocked out in a round by Breidis Prescott in 2008).
Khan claimed after Mayweather-Pacquiao he had been asked to be the American's next opponent. But Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum dismissed Khan's hopes of ever fighting Mayweather. He said: "He will never fight Floyd Mayweather, never, never. Amir Khan means a lot in England... In the United States Amir Khan means nothing and I mean nothing."
Bolton's former world light-welterweight champion has been fighting for the chance to fight Money for the last two years. Last year, Khan even won an online poll set up by Mayweather to decide who he fought next... only for the American to then fight the loser of the poll Marcos Maidana in his next two fights.
Khan's back-up plan of fighting Paquiao in November or December seems off the agenda with the Filipino needing surgery on his shoulder injury that will rule him out for nine months.
Kell Brook 5/10
The Sheffield welterweight had hoped last week to be an option for Mayweather or Pacquiao in September - but his hopes appear to be receding. Brook holds the IBF version of the world title and hoped winning the only version of the world title not on the line between Mayweather-Pacquiao would appeal to the winner. However, with Mayweather declaring he is ready to give up the belts and Brook's low profile in the US, it does not look good for the Briton. Even Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn thinks a fight with Mayweather is remote and what seems more likely is a late summer/autumn defence against American Brandon Rios, should Brook beat fellow Englishman Frankie Gavin on May 30. "Floyd does not want to fight young lions, that includes Brook and Amir Khan," Hearn told Talksport Radio."He's not going to face those sort of people at this stage of his career."
Keith Thurman 7/10
The American has compiled a 25-fight unbeaten record and his popularity has grown after points wins over Robert Guerrero and Leonard Bundu. Thurman, 26, is the WBA regular welterweight champion and he has been calling for a fight with Mayweather. "I'm looking forward to destroying Floyd Mayweather," he said. "My personal motto is burn Money." Thurman boosted his profile with his win over Guerrero in March being boxing's return to free-to-air television in the USA. Like Khan, Thurman has the same boxing adviser as Mayweather, Al Haymon. Unlike Khan, he is available to fight in September and is appealing to an American market.
Danny Garcia 5/10
The American, a world champion at light-welterweight, would have to step up a division and has looked unimpressive in his last two fights. Garcia stopped Khan in 2012 but faded against Lamont Peterson last month before getting the majority points decision. Garcia was also unconvincing against Mauricio Herrera a year ago and has expressed interest in fighting Adrien Broner in July instead.
Miguel Cotto 7/10
A rematch with the Puerto Rican hero offers Mayweather more of a money-making option than other potential fights, although possibly not as much as a rematch with Saul Alvarez. Cotto has revived his career since losing to Mayweather and then American Austin Trout by unanimous decisions, but at 34 he is not the force he once was (which also makes him an attractive opponent for September). Mayweather made £30million from fighting Cotto (who made about £5m) and generated 1.5m pay-per-view buys three years ago. One other option for Cotto other than Mayweather in September is a fight with Alvarez, should Cotto come through a defence of his WBC middleweight title against Australian Daniel Geale on June 6.
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez 7/10
Mayweather's fight with Canelo in September 2013 made £130m, the previous total grossing revenue record before last weekend's £260m fight with Pacquiao, and a rematch is perhaps the most lucrative option for September. The Mexican star is still only 24 and the only blemish on his 46-fight record was a points defeat at light-middleweight to Mayweather, when one of the judges scored the fight a draw. Canelo faces James Kirkland on Saturday and victory will make him a strong contender to face Mayweather next. An obstacle for Alvarez fighting Mayweather is that he is shown on HBO, while Mayweather is contracted to rivals Showtime for his next fight. Before Saturday, Mayweather-Alvarez was the second biggest pay-per-view fight in history (£1.5m).
Gennady Golovkin 5/10
For most fight fans, the Kazakh is the most thrilling boxer in the world right now after stopping 29 of his 32 victims and a fight with Mayweather would be the most interesting of all. However, GGG may be too heavy and too dangerous for Mayweather to risk his legacy for too little cash reward. Golovkin has said he is willing to step down to light-middleweight in order to make the Mayweather match-up and public demand could gather momentum. Golovkin defends his WBC and WBA middleweight titles against Willie Monroe Jr on May 16 and his US profile is growing. He would be available to fight in September but Golovkin is contracted to US TV network HBO, rivals of Showtime who will screen Mayweather's September fight.