Manny Pacquiao considers Abu Dhabi bout vs Amir Khan

Alam Khan - Reporter 11:59 24/01/2015
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  • Thrilling fight: Manny Pacquiao (L) and Amir Khan could fight in Abu Dhabi.

    Abu Dhabi is in line to stage a blockbusting bout between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan – if the Filipino legend does not land his dream date with Floyd Mayweather Junior.

    The UAE capital is being considered, along with London’s Wembley Stadium, as a potential venue for a fight that would thrill the Gulf nation given their respective fanbases in the Emirates.

    Pacquiao, a world champion in eight divisions and current WBO welterweight champion, has set a January 31 deadline for poundfor pound ring king Mayweather to face him on May 2 in Las Vegas.

    But if the American, who has long avoided the 36-year-old, does not agree to put his 47-fight unbeaten record on the line, then Pacquiao will turn his attention to British hero Khan, who sparred with him when they both worked under trainer Freddie Roach.

    “There’s a big possibility [of facing Khan], nothing personal, we’re just doing our job in the ring,” he said yesterday in London. “We’re waiting for the answer from them (Mayweather’s camp), the signed contract from them, probably next week we will know if the fight [can be] pushed through or not.”

    The bout with Mayweather, expected to be worth around $300 million (Dh1.1bn), has been eagerly awaited around the globe for years, but fans have been left repeatedly disappointed as it has failed to materialise.

    And Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said: “Just in case Floyd doesn’t come through we regard Amir as the best possible alternative.

    “He and Manny would make fora very exciting fight and Manny would be more than happy to do it at Wembley stadium.

    “We are looking at that possibility and also Abu Dhabi as another potential venue.

    “But of course we are still working on Mayweather.”

    Khan has longed to have a major fight in the UAE and in another visit recently, the two-time former champion told Sport360° that Dubai would be a perfect venue for a challenge against Pacquiao.

    But Abu Dhabi has now entered the fray and Khan added: “I’ve been looking at Wembley which would be a great stage for me and Manny, and Abu Dhabi is very much in the running.”

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