Boxing News 2016: Bob Arum explains why fight between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan did not materialize
Top Rank Promotions head honcho Bob Arum revealed the reason why the potential fight between eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and former sparring partner Amir Khan did not materialize.
In 2015, Pacquiao and his team flew to London to discuss the possible deals for the said match-up with Khan. However, nothing bore fruit, and Pacquiao ended up fighting Floyd Mayweather instead.
Khan, on the other hand, has his own upcoming fight, a catchweight middleweight title bout against WBC champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on May 7th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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The British boxer had shared the ring with Pacquiao during training, particularly in the late 2000's. Trainer Freddie Roach had often paired them up in sparring sessions, until Khan left the Wild Card gym stable in 2012 and went under Virgil Hunter's tutelage.
When Khan eventually climbed up the ranks, he rightfully began demanding for big fights as well. According to Arum, one reason behind the failure of making the said match-up was because of Khan himself, and the money he asked for in return.
"Essentially, it was about the money," Arum said in a report by Edward Chaykovsky for Boxingscene. "The Khan people presented their views on what Khan should be paid and what he was worth. But when we looked at the numbers, we didn't think that was attractive, as far as us making a profit on the promotion."
Prior to the announcement that Pacquiao would be fighting Bradley, Khan's name was part of the shortlist of fighters that could potentially be the Filipino boxing icon's opponent for the April 9th date. Along with him is reigning WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
But after Bradley defeated Brandon Rios in November, all eyes were seemingly brought to him, and eventually, the rubber match was instead made.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley 3 will be taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
