Khan fight 'part of our plan' says Pacquiao

Dubai: Manny Pacquiao admitted a fight with Amir Khan in Las Vegas next April is possible and “is part of our plan” when questioned on Khan’s claim that a contract has already been signed.

Khan’s camp have reportedly signed a contract and sent it to Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum via their lawyers, according to the Daily Mail.

But Arum strongly refuted these claims in an interview with ESPN.com on Tuesday.

When pressed on Khan’s claims during a meet-and-greet at the Du Store in Dubai Mall on Wednesday, Pacquiao said: “I’ve not talked to Bob Arum yet, but it’s possible.

“It’s part of our plan, we have Amir Khan, Danny Garcia, Terrence Crawford or Timothy Bradley. But I don’t know yet, a lot of names have been given to me by my promoter Bob Arum. [It’s] not yet [decided, but] we are going to finalise.”

When asked if he wanted to fight Khan, the 36-year-old Filipino who is here in Dubai with his Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) side the Mahindra Enforcers, replied: “Of course, if there is no problems in negotiations, then why not?”

Pacquiao lost against Floyd Mayweather Junior in May of this year and is out injured until March 2016, but will return in April for one last fight before retiring to concentrate on the Philippines general elections in May where he is running for senator.

“I’ve already achieved what I want to do in my career, I just want to continue and maintain my name at the top of boxing,” he added. “It’s very important to finish my career with victory.

“This is my last fight in boxing because I’m going to focus on serving the people in the Philippines and I believe I can achieve that dream.”

The Daily Mail reported on Tuesday that ‘confirmation that Khan has accepted the contract has been sent by his lawyers to Pacquiao’s legendary promoter Bob Arum.’

Amir’s father Shah Khan was quoted as saying: “Our paperwork went off to Arum on Friday, and every point is covered. The location is definitely the US. The date in April may vary by a week or so, but April is the month.

“We have been here before with Mayweather so while we are confident the contract will be back with us in the next few days we are holding the second Saturday in January as a fall back date for an alternative fight,” he added.

Arum has strongly rebuked these claims when interviewed by ESPN.com on Tuesday however. “I haven’t sent a contract to him,” he said. “We haven’t sent anything to him. Don’t you think I’m the promoter of the fight and I would know if I sent a contract?

“It’s not true. There is no deal. There is no contract. There has been no decision whatsoever.”