Amir Khan targets Manny Pacquiao super-fight after the eight-weight world champ call him out
Brit says he can put his friendship with the newly-crowned WBA welterweight king to one side - but won't rush into it
AMIR KHAN is targeting a super-fight with pal Manny Pacquiao after the eight-weight world champion called him out.
The Brit believes he knows how to beat his long-term training partner who KO'd Lucas Matthysse at the weekend to win the WBA welterweight crown.
Former unified world light-welterweight king Khan, 31, says he is happy to bide his time before facing the Filipino legend, 39, in what he reckons could be one of the biggest money-spinning bouts in history.
He told TMZ Sports: "All the time I say that I'm gonna fight this guy, but it never happens.
"To be honest I'm just gonna chill and take this fight one step at a time
“If it's Manny Pacquiao then it's Manny Pacquiao. If not, there is a lot of other good fights out there.
"It's one of the bigger money fights out there, but it all depends if Manny Pacquiao's team says yes."
Khan was Pacquiao's stablemate when they shared the Wild Card Gym under boxing’s Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.
And he added: “Look, Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter. I've been around training with him for many years.
"But sometimes friends have to fight each other. I think it will be an explosive fight. I think it will be a great fight.
"You just have to put friendship to the side. It's business.
"I respect him. I think he's a great guy. He's done great things in the sport and you have to respect him for that. I respect him, but I know I can beat him."
Pacquiao himself reacted to beating Matthysse by saying of his friend: "Yes that’s a potential opponent, Amir Khan.
“There’s a lot of potential opponents there.”
