Manny Pacquiao News: Philippine Pride to Fight Amir Khan Next?
Ever since Manny Pacquiao lost to Floyd Mayweather in May of this year, the Philippine boxing champion has not entered the ring, but recent rumors suggest that he might be facing the younger and faster boxer from Britain, Amir Khan.
According to The Telegraph, Bob Arum is still in talks for the fight to happen sometime in 2016, saying the discussion has centered on the dates of the upcoming match, if it is to happen after all.
"I'm in the process of having negotiations with Amir Khan's uncle and his lawyer, Robert Davis, and those negotiations are ongoing," he said.
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Arum noted that the initial recommendation is for Pacquiao to fight Khan at the end of February or probably the first two weeks of April at the latest. He mentioned that March cannot be a good month since the United States will be holding a huge college basketball contest.
The outlet said Arum revealed that Khan was the "only" opponent team Pacquiao is eyeing, adding that he doesn't really negotiate with two people "at the same time" since he believes that it is "unethical."
Arum admitted that he cannot be sure that the talks will be successful since the parties have just started to discuss the possibilities, but he said while the negotiations with Khan's team is going on, he is not planning to meet other teams planning to fight with the "Pacman."
When asked about where the fight could be held, Arum said they are looking at possibilities in Dubai, but he immediately added that Las Vegas is still the most likely location for the British-Filipino bout.
Khan's trainer, Virgil Hunter, revealed recently that his boxer "would be twice as good now," that is, if he decides to stay in California "between fights," referring to Khan's participation in the relief and emergency supply efforts for Syrian refugees in Greece.
Hunter said if a fighter is serious about what he wants in life and if he truly wants to make a "mark," then "it's just a matter of time before [lots of travelling] backfires."
