By Carlos Boogs
Amir Khan has been mentioned as a possible name to face Manny Pacquiao in Middle East showdown, reveals the Filipino star's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank. Arum has suggested Pacquiao’s showing against Floyd Mayweather has led to interest from Middle Eastern backers who are drawn by the global figures.
Pacquiao lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2nd. Khan was ringside and said he was approached by Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, in the aftermath.
Khan is hopefully of facing either Mayweather or Pacquiao. Due to a shoulder injury and recent surgery, Pacquiao will not be able to compete until 2016. But Mayweather is planning to return on September 12th, with Khan already stating that he's available to face him.
Pacquiao and Khan were former sparring partners when the two of them were trained by Freddie Roach. Khan left Roach in 2012 and joined up with trainer Virgil Hunter.
"I just had a delegation in from Dubai trying to talk to me about a Manny Pacquiao fight some time early next year in Dubai," said Arum, according to the Telegraph. "One of the names they suggested as an opponent is Amir Khan. That would be a possibility. We’ll have to see.
"Apparently there’s great interest from Dubai in doing big-time boxing there. With the Emirate airline making regular flights from the UK to Dubai, it’s a great place for British fight fans to watch a fight."