AMIR Khan’s chances of facing Floyd Mayweather in a career-defining fight may have taken a step closer with reports that his expected clash with Devon Alexander is off.

Alexander has taken a fight against another lower profile opponent, Shawn Porter, at the end of next month – a week before he was due to meet Bolton star Khan.

Rumours have been circulating for weeks that Khan’s next fight is going to be against the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter Mayweather.

Both camps have denied them, and Khan has been in America training for the Alexander fight.

Now that Alexander has taken another fight means his scheduled clash with Khan on December 7 is off and Khan has no opponent.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer said that would change, but would not explore the possibility of him fighting Mayweather.

“I am saying [Alexander-Khan] is not happening and I’m going to be exploring some other opportunities for Amir,” Schaefer said.

“I have nothing to say about Floyd Mayweather.

“Amir wouldn’t have gone to training camp if it wouldn’t have been to get ready for Devon Alexander. There is no question he was planning on fighting Devon and we were planning on the fight. Now Team Khan and me are exploring some other opportunities.

“Whether they happen or not, I don’t know.”

Khan has only fought once this year so will want to fight before the end of the year.