World Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has revealed that he is in negotiations with Pakistan-born British boxer Amir Khan (31-4) for his next bout, while the latter also took to Twitter to confirm that their promoters were working to finalise the fight.
The recent announcement comes as a surprise as the Filipino boxer's promoter Bob Arum had earlier reportedly denied rumors of such a fight and he was also trying to set up Pacquio's title defence against Australia's Jeff Horn, who is being promoted by Duco Events, in Brisbane. Notably, the 38-year-old boxer (59-6-2) reclaimed the welterweight title when he defeated American counterpart Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas last November.
"My team and I are in negotiations with Amir Khan for our next fight. Further announcement coming soon," Pacquiao Tweeted.
Notably, he had come up with a Twitter poll earlier this month asking his fans whom he should fight next in the UAE to which 48% of them voted in favour of Khan while British boxer Kell Brook garnered the second most number of votes [24%].
Khan also asserted that his team wes in talk with Pacquiao's and posted a photograph of a pac-man arcade machine as well on Twitter to increase the hype around the proposed match.
"Currently negotiating with Manny #teampacquiao. Coming soon. Watch this space!," Khan wrote.
However, promoter Arum is still not sure whether the match will take place as he is skeptical about Khan camp's ability to raise enough money for the high-profile bout. But the CEO of Top Rank promotions revealed that he will aid the progress if the required money is available in the coming days. He added that the bout will definitely not be in May contrary to rumoured date because of Pacquiao's commitment with Philippines senate which will be in session then.
"The Australian deal is not going to happen now, because Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates and the people there favor him fighting Amir Khan," Arum said, as quoted by the ESPN.
"Whether it will happen or not, I just do not know, because they have to come up with a large amount of money. Manny seems to believe they will come up with the money. I have some reservations whether it will happen or not. If the money comes up, I will aid and abet the fight happening. But right now, I am holding my powder. I don't really know."
