Pacquiao may take on Khan next year in Middle East

Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. File photos

A clash between Manny Pacquiao and Briton Amir Khan is shaping up, and chances are it’s going to be held in the Middle East next year.

Promoter Bob Arum bared this development to The Telegraph recently following Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s announcement that he would fight Andre Berto on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas.

The 83-year-old Arum said he will hold exploratory talks with Khan’s team this weekend.

“This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao,” Arum told Gareth Davies of The Telegraph. “I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao.

“Amir Khan has been begging Mayweather for a fight and now he can get a major fight. I’m not a hard guy to deal with.”

Arum said he is certain that Pacquiao is not ducking Khan.

“Pacquiao will fight him,” the promoter said. “I don’t know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it’s available.”

Arum, however, dispelled the notion that Khan-Pacquiao will take place this year.

“Manny’s not going to fight this year,” he said. “He’ll fight early next year and probably in the Middle East. (Las) Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East.”

After losing by unanimous decision to Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on May 6 and won’t be able to train until late this year. Roy Luarca