Manny Pacquiao is ready to offer snubbed Amir Khan the chance of a big money fight in Abu Dhabi, according to Bob Arum.
The Filipino boxer’s promoter wants to end what he calls the ‘farce’ around Floyd Mayweather’s repeated rejection of a Khan fight by putting him in the ring with Pacquiao, according to the Daily Mail.
Mayweather chose Andre Berto as his next opponent over Khan, a move many in boxing circles saw as taking the easy option.
Now Top Rank CEO Arum says Pacquiao and Khan could fight in early 2016, with Abu Dhabi the favourite to act as host.
“This kid Amir Khan keeps shooting his mouth off about Manny Pacquiao. I can arrange for Khan to fight Pacquiao,' Arum told the Mail.
“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. I'm not going to mess them around. Manny's not going to fight this year.
“He'll fight early next year and probably in the Middle East. Vegas is a possibility, but more likely in the Middle East. It won't be in Dubai but it will be in the Middle East. If not, we'll do it in Vegas.”
Pacquiao is still recovering from the shoulder injury he was accused of hiding ahead of the May 2 bout against Mayweather, which the American won easily on points.
“One thing's for sure, Pacquiao is not ducking Khan,” Arum said. “Pacquiao will fight him. I don't know if Khan will fight Pacquiao, but it's available.”
Mayweather and Berto square off in Las Vegas on September 12. A victory would improve the American’s record to 49-0.
