Amir might have attracted the Pacman in search of fight with Mayweather. PHOTO: AFP
Read: Mayweather's Danny Garcia demand is childish: Amir Khan
Although Khan was disappointed, he may get the next best thing: Manny Pacquiao. After a lacklustre match against Mayweather in May, the Filipino boxer will not be contesting any more matches this year according to his promoter, but he will be fighting in 2016 and the welterweight Khan, could be a suitable opponent.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, is about to begin talks for such a fight, reported The Washington Post.
“This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao. I can arrange for Khan to fight him,” said Arum.
“Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight and now he can get a major fight,” Arum continued.
“I’m not a hard guy to deal with. I’m not going to mess them around.”
“One thing’s for sure, Pacquiao is not ducking Khan,” Arum added.
“Pacquiao will fight him. I don’t know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it’s available.”
Khan had already commented on a possible clash with former gym-mate, Manny Pacquiao, by saying, “I think Manny is a man and he would definitely take the fight.”
Not surprisingly, Arum is confident that his player would emerge victorious, if the bout with Khan takes place.
“It’s a good fight,” said Arum. “Manny beats him, though, in my opinion. Manny is getting up in age, so you never know what’s going to happen. But I think he hits too hard for Khan.”
Amir Khan joins MMA through Super Fight League investment
Two-time world boxing champion Amir Khan has decided to expand his horizons by making an entry in the realm of mixed martial arts.
The 28-year-old has invested in Super Fight League which is an India-based MMA promotion founded in 2012. As the new co-owner of the promotion, Khan plans on being involved in the project.
"We're looking at taking this all around the world," Khan told ESPN.com.
"Live events in Dubai and the U.S. as well. We're in talks with some big TV companies in the U.S. and hoping to break into the market in 2016.
"I've made an investment with SFL because I really do believe in it. Obviously, we have things to do yet, but once we crack into the American market and give them a taste of what we do -- this is the fastest growing sport in the world. It definitely gives boxing a good run for its money.
"One reason I've become a big fan of MMA is I've spent more time in America and it's always on TV. I think within the next couple years, it's only going to get bigger."
Although Khan does not intend to compete in an MMA contest, he says he’s excited to become a part of both the business and athletic side of the sport.
"All MMA guys know boxing, and I can give them advice," said Khan.
"I've been kind of involved in MMA before, when I trained with Freddie Roach he was training [former UFC welterweight champion] Georges St-Pierre.
"I don't think I'll ever be in the cage fighting, but I think being around the fighters and events will definitely be part of my involvement. My name is getting bigger in America, and I also think being involved with this will help my brand.
"I think it could even help my boxing career. Sometimes you get into grappling in the boxing ring. You have to know how to survive and how to break away from those holds, so working with MMA fighters I think will help me as well."
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