MANILA, Philippines – British boxing sensation Amir Khan believes Floyd Mayweather Jr. was lucky not to be disqualified in his welterweight championship bout against Victor Ortiz last September 17 (September 18 in Manila).

Mayweather controversially knocked out Ortiz in the 4th round, while Ortiz was apologizing for a headbutt he delivered moments earlier.

Khan says Mayweather should have been disqualified for throwing the combination while the referee, Joe Cortez, was not looking.

"They let him off because he is Floyd Mayweather," Khan told BBC. "If that was anyone else, you would have been disqualified, but because it was Mayweather, they can't disqualify him."

Khan said Mayweather was looking to retaliate for the headbutt that Ortiz gave him.

"Mayweather is a fighter off the streets and he thought, 'forget this I'm going to get this kid back' and as soon as the ref wasn't looking, bang, he hit him with a left hook," Khan said.

The light-welterweight champion said, if not for Ortiz' headbutt, Mayweather would have gotten disqualified.

Khan, a frequent sparring partner of Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, has expressed his desire to fight Mayweather sometime in 2012.

He will defend his light-welterweight belts against mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson on December 10.