Amir Khan Back in Frame for April 2016 Pacquiao Fight!

By Olly Campbell - 11/02/2015 - Comments

It’s looking like Amir Khan (31-3, 19ko) hasn’t given up on his dream of an eventual fight with Manny Pacquiao next Spring, insisting that talks between the two camps have restarted.

What is for certain is that the Filipino superstar is set to bring the curtain down on his long and illustrious career with a swansong outing next April, and rumour has been rife that talks have opened for a Mayweather rematch at what will then be the newly opened MGM Arena, although the self-professed “TBE” has allegedly scotched these rumours, insisting he stays retired.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, is said to be keenest on setting up a “passing of the torch” fight between Pacquiao and his future stable star, the undefeated Terence Crawford, who currently holds WBO 140 lb honours, although Khan is insistent that after appearing to be previously ruled out, he is firmly back in the frame.

“Talks are going really well,” Khan – on holiday in India – told The Hindu. “They [Pacquiao’s team] are speaking to my team, so I have just left it to my team. I’ll fight anybody who is brought in front of me. If it’s Manny Pacquiao, it’s Manny Pacquiao. If not then somebody else.

“But we are still waiting for response on what’s going to happen. That’s why I took a little break and came to India just to get away from all that because negotiating for a fight is not easy.,” he added.

As it stands, at least in the ring, 2015 will have turned out to be a pretty mediocre year for the former 140 lb world champion, with just a sole outing, against Chris Algieri in May, to add to his CV.

After again hoping to get the call to face Floyd Mayweather, he was snubbed in favour of Pacquiao, who ended up dropping the decision to “Money,” further injuring his shoulder and requiring surgery for the torn rotator cuff that will keep him out of action until the April return.

Should Khan lose out to Crawford, as one suspects he might in this latest round of negotiations, it’s a struggle to see who he will credibly fight next, aside from the likes of Kell Brook, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter – none of whom he seems particularly keen on boxing.

Khan has mentioned interest in a fight with light-hitting WBO welterweight champion, Tim Bradley, as well the chance of redeeming himself against Danny Garcia, who knocked him out and took his titles in 2012, although at this stage it appears once again he is placing all his eggs in one basket in hope of a big Pacquiao payday.

You would have thought he’d have learned his lesson in that regard, wouldn’t you?

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