Amir Khan warms up in the ring during the WBC middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 7, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. David Becker/Getty Images/AFP
Manny Pacquiao, despite clear signs of slowing down, remains a big-ticket item in all of boxing.
Even former sparring partner Amir Khan feels the same way and called out the country’s fighting senator to a September clash to finally push through with the showdown, which was announced last year but fell through.
Khan, who once trained with Pacquiao under Freddie Roach, also picked the Filipino eight-division champion over Argentine journeyman Lucas Matthysse in their duel on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.
The British former light welterweight champion told boxingscene.com that he’s “forcing his way” to becoming a world champion once again.
And he’s looking at challenging Pacquiao, whom he feels is the better fighter in the fight that stakes Matthysse’s WBA welterweight crown.
Pacquiao took a break in his General Santos City camp, tapering off his training before his camp leaves for the Malaysian capital on July 9.
His trainer and best friend Buboy Fernandez has declared that they have devised a plan to contain the raging bull style of Matthysse.
Matthysse, on a belated shot at stardom and big paychecks, is expected to generate excitement in the fight set at Axiata Arena.