Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan set for WBO world-welterweight title… if fight backers stump up £31million
PACMAN and Khan have both confirmed their camps are in early negotiations to meet for a May showdown
AMIR KHAN’S blockbuster clash with Manny Pacquiao is on — but only if fight backers first come up with around £31MILLION to stage the bout.
Pacman and Khan have both confirmed their camps are in early negotiations to meet for the WBO world-welterweight title — with the Brit hoping for a May showdown.
But Pacquiao’s American promoter Bob Arum says the deal is dependent on getting investors to stump up £31m to stage the fight in the UAE.
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Khan has spent a lot of time in Dubai and has held talks about putting boxing on the map in the Middle East by fighting there.
Arum confirmed: “When the money comes up then I will take a role in the promotion. I don’t want to be saying this is going to happen, or not going to happen.”
But Arum spoke cautiously about the chances of the fight taking place between the former stablemates, who were both trained by Freddie Roach at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
He added: “Manny would be happy to do the fight with Khan if the money comes up — and I don’t have a lot of confidence it will.
“The money is very high, very considerable. I have no idea if they have the wherewithal to put this money up.
“Until they do I’m taking a hands-off approach.”
Pacquiao’s advisor, Canadian Michael Koncz, has already spoken to Khan’s camp.
Khan, the former WBA and IBF world light-welterweight champion, is desperate for a deal to be reached.
The Bolton boxer is now 30 and has not held a world title since 2012.
And Khan has not fought since last May when he was brutally stopped by Canelo Alvarez after stepping up to middleweight.
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Pacman, an EIGHT-division world champ, is 38 years old but is current WBO welterweight king.
He is now a Filipino senator and can fight only during government recesses.
Pacman was originally scheduled to fight relative unknown Jeff Horn on April 22 but Khan hopes to jump the queue.
However, this is a fight that will capture the imagination of the boxing world.
Pacquiao and Khan have sparred many rounds together when they shared the same trainer in Freddie Roach at The Wild Card gym in Los Angles.
They are both known for their lightning quick hands so this will be a fantastic match up of speed vs speed.