PACQUIAO VS AMIR KHAN NEXT YEAR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 11 Aug 2015
Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao is likely to face Amir Khan in the Middle East sometime next year. That?s the word from Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who charts Pacquiao?s career.
A report in the Daily Telegraph newspaper said Arum is due to open talks with Khan's camp in London this weekend, after pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr once again denied Khan a title shot despite the WBC welterweight Silver champion?s constant pleas.
While Khan was disappointed at Mayweather's decision to face Andre Berto in what could be his final fight on September 12. Sky Sports quoted Arum who the bout "a farce".
Pacquiao has been out of the ring since losing to Mayweather last May 2 in the ?Fight of the Century? and underwent surgery five days later for a tear in his right shoulder rotator cuff which he blamed for his points defeat in Las Vegas.
Arum told the Daily Telegraph "This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao. I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao. Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight and now he can get a major fight. I'm not a hard guy to deal with. I'm not going to mess them around."
Arum is certain Khan should have been Mayweather's next opponent when the unbeaten superstar bids for his 49th successive victory in September, aiming to equal the legendary Rocky Marciano's mark. He said "That's a farce. Mayweather should have fought Khan next. It would have been an interesting fight."
The astute promoter made it clear, "One thing's for sure, Pacquiao is not ducking Khan. Pacquiao will fight him. I don't know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it's available."
But any possible Khan-Pacquiao fight will not take place this year as Pacquiao will take the rest of the year off to ensure complete recovery from his shoulder injury as Arum confirmed.
"Manny's not going to fight this year. He'll fight early next year and probably in the Middle East. Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East. It won't be in Dubai but it will be in the Middle East. If not, we'll do it in Vegas.
Arum added "There's two different groups in the Middle East (wanting to host the fight). I'd like to do Pacquiao against Amir Khan but they'll take Manny against any decent guy."
Pacquiao and Khan met earlier this year in a London Gym where they discussed a possible fight this year but which was set aside after they agreed on terms for a Mayweather showdown.
Pacquiao was in London for a private dinner with Britain?s Prince Harry.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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